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bleat

(blēt)

a. The characteristic cry of a goat or sheep.

b. A sound similar to this cry.

2. A whining, feeble complaint.

v. bleat·ed, bleat·ing, bleats

v.intr.

1. To utter the characteristic cry of a goat or sheep.

2. To utter a sound similar to this cry, especially a whine.

v.tr.

To utter in a whining way.

[Middle English blet, from bleten, to bleat, from Old English blǣtan.]

bleater n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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