Blabbed

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /blæbd/

Definitions

1. Disclosed a secret or private information carelessly or without permission
2. Let out confidential details unintentionally or in an unguarded moment
3. Spoke about something meant to be kept private, revealing it to others

Etymology: "Blabbed" is the past tense of "blab," and the verb's roots are imitative. In Middle English, "blabben" meant "to talk foolishly," and it may derive from a noun, "blabbe," meaning idle talk or a talebearer. Related forms appear in Middle English "blaberen," meaning to blabber or babble, and in Middle High German "blabezen," meaning to stammer or babble. The shared pattern of a "bl-" opening paired with a repeated "b" sound suggests the words were built to mimic the flapping, loose quality of chattering speech. The original sense was simply noisy or foolish talk, with no suggestion of betrayal. The sense of blurting out a secret came later, as chatter that spills unguarded words began to be heard as revealing what should have stayed hidden. That shift is what gives the verb its modern meaning of telling something that was meant to be kept private.

Synonyms: gossiped, chattered, talked, jabbered, prattled

Antonyms: kept quiet, silenced, concealed, withheld, muffled