addle

[ ad-l ]

verb (used with or without object)

, ad·dled, ad·dling.

1. to make or become confused.
2. to make or become rotten, as eggs.

adjective

1. mentally confused; muddled.
2. rotten ( def 1 ):

   addle eggs.

addle

¹

/ ˈædəl /

verb

1. to make or become confused or muddled
2. to make or become rotten

adjective

1. in combination indicating a confused or muddled state

   addle-brained

   addle-pated

addle

²

/ ˈædəl /

verb

1. dialect.
   to earn (money or one's living)

Other Words From

• ad·dled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of addle¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English adel “rotten,” Old English adela “liquid, filth”; cognate with Middle Low German adele “liquid manure”

Word History and Origins

Origin of addle¹

C18: (vb), back formation from addled, from c13 addle rotten, from Old English adela filth; related to dialect German Addel liquid manure

Origin of addle²

C13: addlen, from Old Norse öthlask to gain possession of property, from ōthal property

Example Sentences

He expected the chemical would addle mitochondria in every organ.

From Science Magazine

RAYYAN, Qatar — It would overstate it to say the bones in the match at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium creaked loudly enough to addle the decorative camels at the adjacent Mall of Qatar, but two old warhorses did go at it Thursday night with the mission of seeing off one.

From Washington Post

“I dim the eyes and addle the brain. Every mortal fears old age!”

From Literature

“The creepiness of this holiday destination,” Sarah Lyall writes in her latest thrillers column, “is enhanced by intermittent excerpts from fake historical documents and other sources, all testifying to Meroe’s tendency to addle the minds and cut short the lives of visitors, some of whom consumed one another after a shipwreck there in the 19th century. ‘That place has bad vibes,’ a more recent tourist says on Twitter.

From New York Times

And, as to hopes of a glorious resurrection, I’ve often heard him say masel’ that he hoped he’d go to hell, for his mother was so pious that she’d be sure to go to heaven, an’ he didn’t want to addle where she was.

From Literature