Blither Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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blither
[ˈblɪðər ]
Definition
speaking nonsense
To blither means to talk nonsensically or to speak in a rambling, incoherent manner. It often implies a lack of seriousness in the conversation, where the speaker may not be paying attention to the coherence of their words or the reactions of their audience. Blithering can be an expression of excitement, confusion, or simply a display of the speaker's tendency to babble without real purpose.
Synonyms
babble, jabber, prattle, rant.
Examples of usage
- He tends to blither when he gets nervous.
- The politician blithered on about policies without providing real solutions.
- Stop blithering and get to the point.
- She blithered about her weekend plans long after everyone lost interest.
Translations
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Origin of 'blither'
The word 'blither' first appeared in the early 19th century and is believed to be a variant of the older English term 'blithen', meaning to talk foolishly or to chatter. Its roots can be traced back to the Middle English word 'blithen', which stemmed from the Old Norse term 'blithr', meaning happy or cheerful. The transition of the meaning from expressing cheerfulness to denoting nonsensical speech illustrates an evolution in language where jovial talking could easily slip into foolish babbling. Over time, 'blither' has retained its informal and somewhat playful connotation, often used in contexts that suggest light-heartedness or triviality. Today, it is often employed to describe someone engaging in meaningless or excessive chatter.
Word Frequency Rank
At position #41,148, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.