addle — addle, addled The usual word now is addled, and is applied (a) to eggs, and (b) figuratively, to brains (i.e. the mind). Originally, addle was a noun meaning ‘stinking urine or other liquid filth’, although its associations have usually been with … Modern English usage
Addle — Ad dle, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. {Addled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Addling}.] To make addle; to grow addle; to muddle; as, he addled his brain. Their eggs were addled. Cowper. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Addle — Ad dle, v. t. & i. [OE. adlen, adilen, to gain, acquire; prob. fr. Icel. [ o][eth]lask to acquire property, akin to o[eth]al property. Cf. {Allodial}.] 1. To earn by labor. [Prov. Eng.] Forby. [1913 Webster] 2. To thrive or grow; to ripen. [Prov … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
addle — [ad′ l] adj. [ME adel in adel eye, addle egg, transl. of L ovum urinae, egg of urine, confused form of ovum urinum (a rendering of Gr ourion ōon, wind egg) < OE adela; akin to MLowG adele, mud] 1. rotten: said of an egg 2. muddled; confused:… … English World dictionary
Addle — Ad dle, n. [OE. adel, AS. adela, mud.] [1913 Webster] 1. Liquid filth; mire. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 2. Lees; dregs. [Prov. Eng.] Wright. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Addle — Ad dle, a. Having lost the power of development, and become rotten, as eggs; putrid. Hence: Unfruitful or confused, as brains; muddled. Dryden. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
addle — index confuse (bewilder), decay, discompose, muddle, obfuscate, spoil (impair) Burton s Legal Thesaurus … Law dictionary
addle — muddle, *confuse, fuddle, befuddle Analogous words: confound, dumbfound, nonplus, bewilder (see PUZZLE): amaze, flabbergast, astound (see SURPRISE): fluster, flurry, agitate, upset (see DISCOMPOSE) Antonyms: refresh (mentally) Contrasted words:… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
addle — ► VERB 1) confuse. 2) (addled) (of an egg) rotten. ► ADJECTIVE ▪ unsound; muddled. ORIGIN from Old English, «liquid filth» … English terms dictionary
addle — v. & adj. v. 1 tr. muddle, confuse. 2 intr. (of an egg) become addled. adj. 1 muddled, unsound (addle brained; addle head). 2 empty, vain. 3 (of an egg) addled. Etymology: OE adela filth, used as adj., then as verb … Useful english dictionary
