| 释义 |
▪ I. prattle, n.|ˈpræt(ə)l|
[f. prattle v.]
The act or action of prattling; that which is prattled; idle inconsequent talk, childish chatter, small talk.
1555W. Watreman Fardle Facions ii. vii. 160 As for byeng and sellyng, or any kinde of Lawe prattle, thei [Persians] vse not. 1583Babington Commandm. Ded. to Earl Pembroke, There men shall be judged according to proofe,..not according to pratles. 1600Holland Livy xliv. xxii. 1184 Let him hold him there and keep his babble and prattle to himselfe. 1672Cave Prim. Chr. i. iii. (1673) 35 Talkative and full of prattle. 1768–74Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) II. 629 You may soon discover this by the prattle of the children, who love to repeat what they hear. 1796Burney Mem. Metastasio II. 374 [Having] since that written you a long prattle, which ought to have been forwarded to you. 1865J. Hatton Bitter Sweets xxiv, Her mother was never tired of her girlish prattle.
b. transf. and fig. Applied to the voice of birds, the noise of running water, etc.
1693Evelyn De la Quint. Compl. Gard. II. 179 The harmony of the pretty Birds, which a sort of extraordinary gayety and briskness at this time inspires with amorous prattle. 1856Miss Mulock J. Halifax xxiii, Listening..to the prattle of the stream, that went singing along.
▪ II. prattle, v.|ˈpræt(ə)l|
Also 6 prattel(l, prattale, prattil, 6–8 pratle.
[dim. and freq. of prate v.: see -le 3; = MLG. pratelen, protelen to chatter, grumble.]
1. intr. To talk or chatter in a childish or artless fashion; to be loquacious about trifles; formerly equivalent to prate; now chiefly said, without contempt, of the talk of young children.
1532More Confut. Tindale Wks. 533/2 So he dooeth but prattle & prate of feling fayth, without the feling of any fayth at all. 1557N.T. (Genev.) 3 John 10 If I come, I wyl declare his dedes whych he doeth, pratteling against vs with malicious wordes. 1594T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. ii. 118 Those that cease not to prattle and babble about vaine and vnprofitable matters. 1692Locke Educ. §35 He had the Mastery of his Parents ever since he could Prattle. 1722De Foe Moll Flanders (1840) 208, I talked to [the pretty little child], and it prattled to me again. 1778Johnson Let. to Mrs. Thrale 15 Oct., I never said with Dr. Dodd that I love to prattle upon paper, but I have prattled now till the paper will not hold much more than my good wishes. 1885Clodd Myths & Dr. i. viii. 134 The childhood of the race..when it prattles of the Golden Age.
b. transf. and fig. To make an inarticulate sound resembling or likened to the talk of children: said of birds, running water, etc.
1863B. Taylor Poet's Jrnl. iii. Under Moon, A fountain prattles to the night. 1887G. Meredith Ballads & P. 53 The light leaves prattled to neighbour ears.
2. trans. To utter in an idle, garrulous, or (now usually) childish way.
1560Becon New Catech. Wks. I. 465 b, Whatsoeuer the Papistes..pratle in this behalf, I am sure, reason sayeth, that there remaineth bothe bread & wyne. 1583Babington Commandm. ix. (1637) 92 If it be a vertue thus to prittle and prattle of every body uncertaine tales, but most certaine discredits. 1598Drayton Heroic. Ep. ii. 160 The little birds..Shall learne to speake and prattle Rosamond. 1696Tate & Brady Ps. lviii. 3 They prattled Slander, and in Lies Employ'd their lisping Tongue. 1784Cowper Task ii. 382 Frequent in Park with lady at his side, Ambling and prattling scandal as he goes. 1887Jessopp Arcady ii. 64, I am but..a mere chronicler of gossip that will not be prattled long.
b. To bring or drive by prattling into, etc.
1601Shakes. All's Well iv. i. 46 If you prattle mee into these perilles. |