The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
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 — (v.) 1712, from addle (n.) urine, liquid filth, from O.E. adela mud, mire, liquid manure (cognate with O.Swed. adel urine, M.L.G. adel, Du. aal puddle ). Used in noun phrase addle egg (mid 13c.) egg that does not hatch, rotten egg, lit. urine egg … Etymology dictionary
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
