Twaddles

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To engage in meaningless or silly talk; to speak in a foolish or trivial manner; to express ideas that lack depth or seriousness in conversation
2. To converse about trivial matters with little substance; to express oneself in a way that is frivolous or nonsensical; to engage in chatter that is light-hearted and silly
3. To partake in nonsensical dialogue filled with trivial details; to communicate without regard for importance; to engage in discussions marked by superficiality and whimsy

Etymology: "Twaddles" is the third-person singular present form of "twaddle", so the history belongs to the verb itself. The verb is an alteration of "twattle", which first appears in 1556, and its ultimate source is unknown. The change from "twattle" to "twaddle" is the sort of small sound shift that happens when a word's spelling and pronunciation drift in everyday speech, and it leaves no trail that explains why the original was chosen. What is clear is the sense the word has carried from the start: idle, foolish talk that goes nowhere. "Twattle" was already an informal word for chatter, and "twaddle" kept that sense while sounding softer and more playful. That light, slightly mocking tone is why the verb still suits talk that is harmless but empty.

Synonyms: babble, chatter, prattle, gossip, drivel

Antonyms: silence, reticence, quiet