bombinate
English edit
Etymology edit
From Medieval Latin bombināre, present active infinitive of bombinō (“buzz, hum”), variant of Latin bombilō, from Ancient Greek βομβυλιάζειν (bombuliázein), from βόμβος (bómbos, “booming, humming”), of imitatory origin.
Pronunciation edit
Verb edit
bombinate (third-person singular simple present bombinates, present participle bombinating, simple past and past participle bombinated)
- to buzz or hum; to speak idly, vacuously, or to little effect.
- 1941, H.G. Wells, You Can't be Too Careful: A Sample of Life 1901-1951, London: Secker & Warburg, page 284:
- None of this multitude of thinkers and their satellites brought his thoughts into really conclusive contact with the others. To do it would have been to discover much practical identity and so lose distinction. After their fashion, each bombinated abundantly with only the slightest regard to other bombinators.
- 1973, Patrick O'Brian, HMS Surprise:
- So full a ship, so close-packed a world, moving urgently along, surrounded by its own vacuum; each man bombinating in his own, no doubt.