slobber English · revision 1298

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈslɒbə(ɹ)/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|sloberen]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) perhaps of Low German origin^(AHD) and probably imitative.^(Etymonline) It is related to Frisian ''slobberje'' “to slurp” and Middle Low German ''slubberen''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) Random House calls it a variant of ''slabber''.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To eat in a slovenly manner (14th century; about 1380 in Barnhart).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun first meant mud or slime (about 1400),^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and from 1755 saliva running from the mouth.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The figurative sense of gushing with sentiment, ''slobber over'', dates from 1825.^(OED 1989)^(AHD)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 1380 – to slobber, implied in ''sloberande''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * about 1400 – noun, mud or slime.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1607 – to drool, per Merriam-Webster.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1755 – noun, saliva.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1825 – ''slobber over'', to fuss over.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To let saliva run from the mouth; to [[drool]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To show feeling in an effusive, sentimental way; to [[gush]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # To wet with saliva or dribbled liquid.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Saliva dribbling from the mouth.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Gushing, sentimental talk; [[drivel]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[slobberer]]

+ * [[slobbery]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[slaver]]

+ * [[slob]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House gives ''drool'', ''dribble'' and ''slop'' as synonyms.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}