confab

noun
/ˈkɒnfæb/UK/kənˈfæb/US/kɔnˈfæb/

Etymology

Clipping of confabulate, from Latin cōnfābulārī + English -ate (suffix forming verbs with the sense of acting in the specified manner). Cōnfābulārī is the present active infinitive of cōnfābulor (“to converse; to discuss”), from con- (prefix indicating a bringing together) + fābulor (“to chat, converse, talk; to make up a story”) (from fābula (“discourse, narrative; fable, story”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- (“to say, speak”)) + for (“to say, speak, talk”)).

  1. derived from confābulātiōnem
  2. inherited from confabulacion — “conversation

Definitions

  1. Clipping of confabulation (“a casual chat or talk”).

    • But, Sir, as I am in haſte, we had better refer the Diſpute at preſent—any other Time I am at your Service for a Confab of a few Hours—I ſhall run thro' my Buſineſs with as brief Prolixity as poſſible— [...]
    • [January 4, 1810.] [...] At six to la Baronne Knebel, chez lui Princess Caroline. Tea and cheerful confab.
    • Some confab followed, and I overheard enough to tell me that a scouting party had come in, bringing a prisoner.
  2. Clipping of confabulate (“to speak casually with somebody

    Clipping of confabulate (“to speak casually with somebody; to chat”).

    • [T]o mak conquests o' bits o' lasses, ye would hae been sitting in your forlorn chair, confabbing wi' Jock, about whether by rope, or gun, was the easiest way o' deeing.
    • He had actually argued and "confabbed" with a strange jeweller, and he had asked him questions about his wife; his delicate little Hélène!
    • We had a cold supper, and then Bill and me walked out on the prairie, to confab a little about what was ahead.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for confab. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA