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wob·ble also wab·ble

(wŏbəl)

v. wob·bled, wob·bling, wob·bles also wab·bled or wab·bling or wab·bles

v.intr.

1. To move or rotate with an uneven or rocking motion or unsteadily from side to side.

2. To tremble or quaver: The child's voice wobbled with emotion.

3. To waver or vacillate in one's opinions or feelings.

v.tr.

To cause to wobble.

1. The act or an instance of wobbling; unsteady motion.

2. A tremulous, uncertain tone or sound: a vocal wobble.

[Probably from Low German wabbeln; see webh- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

wobbler 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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