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Origin and Etymology of slur
obsolete English dialect slur thin mud, from Middle English sloor; akin to Middle High German slier mud
NEW! Time Traveler
First Known Use: 1609
in the meaning defined at sense 1a
See Words from the same yearFirst Known Use of slur
1660
Definition of slur
slurred;
slurring
1 a
: to slide or slip over without due mention, consideration, or emphasis
- slurred over certain facts
b
: to perform hurriedly : skimp
- let him not slur his lesson
- —R. W. Emerson
2
: to perform (successive tones of different pitch) in a smooth or connected manner
3 a
: to reduce, make a substitution for, or omit (sounds that would normally occur in an utterance)
b
: to utter with such reduction, substitution, or omission of sounds
- his speech was slurred
Origin and Etymology of slur
probably from Low German slurrn to shuffle; akin to Middle English sloor mud
NEW! Time Traveler
First Known Use: 1660
in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
See Words from the same yearFirst Known Use of slur
circa 1801
SLUR Defined for Kids
Definition of slur for Students
slurred;
slurring
: to speak in a way that is difficult to understand
Learn More about slur
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See words that rhyme with slur Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for slur Spanish Central: Translation of slur Nglish: Translation of slur for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of slur for Arabic speakers
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