Word of the Day

: December 7, 2007

confabulate

verb kun-FAB-yuh-layt

What It Means

1 : to talk informally : chat

2 : to hold a discussion : confer

3 : to fill in gaps in memory by fabrication

confabulate in Context

Before accepting my offer to purchase their handmade quilt, Polly and Linda took a moment to confabulate.

Did You Know?

"Confabulate" is a fabulous word for making fantastic fabrications. Given the similarities in spelling and sound, you might guess that "confabulate" and "fabulous" come from the same root, and they do -- the Latin "fabula," which means "conversation, story." Another "fabula" descendant that continues to tell tales in English is "fable." All three words have long histories in English: "fable" first appeared in writing in the 14th century, and "fabulous" followed in the 15th. "Confabulate" is a relative newcomer, appearing at the beginning of the 1600s.

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.