Word of the Day

: May 30, 2008

garrulous

adjective GAIR-uh-lus

What It Means

1 : pointlessly or annoyingly talkative

2 : wordy

garrulous in Context

With a few judicious revisions, a good editor can often transform garrulous writing into elegant prose.

Did You Know?

English has many adjectives that share the meaning "given to talk" or "talking." "Talkative" may imply a readiness to talk or a disposition to enjoy conversation, while "loquacious" suggests the power of expressing oneself articulately, fluently, or glibly. "Voluble" suggests a free, easy, and unending talkativeness, and "garrulous" implies talkativeness that is dull, rambling, or tedious. "Garrulous," by the way, derives from the Latin verb "garrire," which means (no surprise here) "to chatter" or "to babble."