prattle

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

From prate + -le (early modern English frequentative suffix). Compare Dutch pruttelen and Dutch preutelen (“to mutter”).

Amy’s happy prattle became intolerable. — The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Complete, Mark Twain
Cadence is the mainspring; avoid, he says, Lucian’s prattle about the stars. — The Beginnings of Poetry, Francis Barton Gummere
The very danger prattles promise.’ But the dragon must really sleep, as with Margarita. — Complete Short Works of George Meredith, George Meredith

prate, idle talk, blether, chin music

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