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eaves-dropping

eave-drop·ping
E e

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [eev drop-ing]
    • /iv ˈdrɒp ɪŋ/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [eev drop-ing]
    • /iv ˈdrɒp ɪŋ/

Definitions of eaves-dropping word

  • verb without object eaves-dropping to listen secretly to a private conversation. 1
  • verb with object eaves-dropping Archaic. to eavesdrop on. 1
  • noun eaves-dropping water that drips from the eaves. 1
  • noun eaves-dropping the ground on which such water falls. 1
See all 4 definitions of eaves-dropping

Information block about the term

Origin of eaves-dropping

First appearance:

before 900
One of the 4% oldest English words
before 900; (noun) Middle English evesdrope, evesdripe, Old English yfesdrype; as v., probably back formation from eavesdropper, late Middle English evisdroppyr, apparently literally, one who stands on the eavesdrop in order to listen to conversations inside the house; see eave, drop, drip

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Eaves-dropping

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Full grammatical hierarchy of Eaves-dropping

eaves-dropping popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 65% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.

See also

Matching words

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