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prettygoodwordmumble (MUHM-buhl) - v., to speak unintelligibly or inaudibly; to chew something gently, with or as if with toothless gums.
I've rarely seen that latter sense, and not in anything written recently that I can recall. This one dates to around 1300 in the Middle English form momelen, frequentive of mum, which has survived in Modern English only as an adjective meaning to be silent (and as a command to be silent) but at the time was also a verb -- so originally more that inaudible sense.
---L.
I've rarely seen that latter sense, and not in anything written recently that I can recall. This one dates to around 1300 in the Middle English form momelen, frequentive of mum, which has survived in Modern English only as an adjective meaning to be silent (and as a command to be silent) but at the time was also a verb -- so originally more that inaudible sense.
---L.
