Gossipings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Engaging in casual or informal conversation about the personal lives of others, often sharing rumors or private matters
2. The act of discussing or spreading information, typically about others, that may not be entirely true or verified
3. Participating in the exchange of idle talk about people’s affairs, characterized by a focus on scandalous or sensational content

Etymology: "Gossipings" is the plural of "gossiping," which is the noun form of the verb "gossip" in the sense of idle chatter, and its plural names separate sessions of such talk. The base word, "gossip," goes back to Old English "godsibb," meaning a godparent, literally a "god-sib" or sponsor-relation, since "sib" meant kinship. Over the centuries the word drifted from a sacred or family tie to someone who chats with a companion, and then to the chatter itself. Because the plural only pluralizes the noun, it carries the same meaning as the singular, with the added sense of several spells of talk. Writers usually reach for it when they want to stress repeated or lengthy sessions rather than one conversation.

Synonyms: chatter, rumors, tattle, tittle-tattle, tattle-tale