different between idiocy vs drivel

English

Alternative forms

• idiotcy (archaic)

Etymology

From French idiotie, from Old French idiot. Displaced earlier idiotacy, idiotry.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??di.?si/

Noun

idiocy (countable and uncountable, plural idiocies)

1. (dated, psychology, now derogatory) The state or condition of being an idiot; the quality of having an intelligence level far below average; mental retardation; intellectual disability.
2. An act lacking intelligence or sense; an instance of senselessness; extremely foolish behaviour.

Synonyms

• imbecility
• stupidity

Related terms

• idiot
• idiotic
• idiotically
• idiocracy

Translations

References

• idiocy at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• dioicy

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d??v.?l/
• Hyphenation: driv?el
• Rhymes: -?v?l

Etymology 1

From Middle English drivelen, drevelen, from Old English dreflian (“to drivel, slobber, slaver”), from Proto-Germanic *drablijan?,from Proto-Indo-European *d?ereb?- (“cloudy, turbid; yeast”).

Noun

drivel (countable and uncountable, plural drivels)

1. senseless talk; nonsense
2. saliva, drool
3. (obsolete) A fool; an idiot.

Translations

Verb

drivel (third-person singular simple present drivels, present participle (US) driveling or drivelling, simple past and past participle (US) driveled or drivelled)

1. To have saliva drip from the mouth; to drool.
2. To talk nonsense; to talk senselessly; to drool.
3. To be weak or foolish; to dote.
   • driveling dotard

Synonyms

• (have saliva drip from the mouth): drool
• (talk nonsense): See also Thesaurus:nonsense.

Translations

Etymology 2

Compare Old Dutch drevel (“scullion”).

Noun

drivel (plural drivels)

1. (obsolete) A servant; a drudge.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Huloet to this entry?)

References

• drivel in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Anagrams

• Vidler, drevil