addle

(ăd'l)

v., -dled, -dling, -dles.

v.tr.
To muddle; confuse: "My brain is a bit addled by whiskey" (Eugene O'Neill). See synonyms at confuse.

v.intr.

1. To become confused.
2. To become rotten, as an egg.

[From Middle English adel, rotten, from Old English adel, pool of excrement.]

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The usual word now is addled, and is applied (a) to eggs, and (b) figuratively, to brains (i.e. the mind). Originally, addle was a noun meaning 'stinking urine or other liquid filth', although its associations have usually been with eggs and heads, both seen as capable of 'addling', hence addle-brain(ed), addle-head(ed), etc.

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verb

To cause to be unclear in mind or intent: befuddle, bewilder, confound, confuse, discombobulate, dizzy, fuddle, jumble, mix up, muddle, mystify, perplex, puzzle. Informal throw. Idioms: make one's headreelswimwhirl. See clear/unclear, feelings.

For a list of words related to addled, see:

• Stupid, Ignorant, or Confused
• Drunkenness, Drunkards, and Alcoholism - addled: (adj) drunk; confused by drink

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See words rhyming with "addle."

Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - forvirre, gøre konfus
v. intr. - blive rådden, gå i råddenskab
adj. - forvirret, konfus, fjoget

Nederlands (Dutch)
verwarren, rotten (ei), leeg, rot, in de war, onbetrouwbaar

Français (French)
v. tr. - faire pourrir, (fig) brouiller
v. intr. - se pourrir, pourrir, (fig) être brouillé
adj. - pourri, (fig) embrouillé

Deutsch (German)
v. - faulen, verderben, aus dem Konzept kommen
adj. - verwirrt, leer, unfruchtbar

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - προκαλώ σύγχυση, συγχύζομαι, τα χάνω, (για αβγά) κλουβιαίνω, χαλώ

Italiano (Italian)
confondere, marcire, confondersi

Português (Portuguese)
v. - estragar-se (ovos), confundir, deteriorar-se

Русский (Russian)
портиться, испорченный, тухлый, запутаться, сбить с толку

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - podrir, pudrir, confundir
v. intr. - podrirse, pudrirse, confundirse
adj. - podrido, confundido, putrefacto

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - röra ihop, förvirra, ruttna

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
使混乱, 使腐坏, 变坏, 混乱的, 腐坏的

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 使混亂, 使腐壞
v. intr. - 變壞
adj. - 混亂的, 腐壞的

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 썩이다, 혼란케 하다
v. intr. - 썩다
adj. - 썩은, 혼란한

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 腐る, 混乱する, 腐らせる
adj. - 腐った, 混乱した

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) مفسد‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮בלבל‬
v. intr. - ‮התבלבל, התקלקל‬
adj. - ‮מבולבל, ריק, מקושקשת (ביצה)‬

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