I received a Facebook post from one of you, about words that end in “-le.” The presenter said that when you hear a verb with the suffix “-le,” and look at the root of the word, the ending indicates “repetition or continuousness.” Here’s an example for you: sneezle. Now, I didn’t know sneezle was a word, but I do know the verb “to sneeze.” Using this presenter’s method to define the word, you find the root (sneeze) and add the “-le” to mean repetitive sneezing or “To sneeze continuously or multiple times.”
When I started looking into this, I noticed that we don’t use many of these words anymore, and then some of them are tricky because the roots they use are from Old English, Middle English, or older. It’s still an interesting feature in our language, so I thought I’d provide you with some examples.
There is a longer list on Wiktionary…around 70. You can expand the list and click for more information if you’re interested. For now, I’ve provided a table with the details on almost 20 of these verbs. We have some cool words out there that we should be using more often!
| Word | Root | Meaning |
| buzzle | buzz | To buzz repeatedly, whir, or hum continuously. |
| crackle | crack | A prolonged, frequent cracking sound; a fizzing, popping sound. |
| cuddle | Middle English
<![if !supportLists]>· <![endif]>cudden: embrace <![if !supportLists]>· <![endif]>cuth or couth: known or familiar. |
An intimate physical embrace, typically while lying (or sitting). More intimate than a hug. |
| dazzle | daze | To render incapable of thinking clearly; to overwhelm with showiness or brilliance. |
| draggle | drag | To make, or to become, wet and muddy by dragging on the ground. |
| drawl | draw (pull); draw out (lengthen); tarry; linger | To pronounce in a dull tone, as if by dragging out the utterance. |
| dribble | drib (a drop) | To fall in drops or an unsteady stream; to trickle. |
| drizzle | Middle English
drysning (a morning dew) |
To rain lightly. |
| gamble | Old English
gamen (joy; mirth; pleasure; entertainment; pastime; sport; game) |
Make a bet; to make a wager. A risky activity. |
| grapple | Middle English
grapplen (“to seize, lay hold of”) |
Hand to hand struggle. |
| jostle | joust | To bump into or brush against while in motion; to push aside. |
| kissle | kiss | To smother with kisses; kiss repeatedly. |
| mingle | Middle English
menglen |
To mix; to associate. |
| nestle | nest | To settle oneself comfortably and snugly. |
| ramble | Middle English
ramen (roam; ramble) |
Walking (or talking) at length, with no direction. |
| ripple | rimple (bend, curve, make waves) | A moving disturbance, or undulation, in the surface of a fluid. |
| sizzle | Middle English
sissen (to hiss; to buzz; to hum) |
To burn up or sear with a hissing sound. |
| startle | Middle English
startlen (to rush, stumble along) |
To move suddenly, or be excited, on feeling alarm. |
| wrestle | wrest (twist) | To engage in grappling combat or sport, struggle; to twist and turn, squirm, wriggle, writhe. |
Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | KE – Documentation
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