gruntle

English

Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

From grunt +‎ -le (early modern English frequentative suffix).

Verb

gruntle (third-person singular simple present gruntles, present participle gruntling, simple past and past participle gruntled)

1. (obsolete) To utter small, low grunts.
2. (obsolete) To complain; to grumble

Derived terms

• begruntle
• disgruntle

Translations

grunt — see grunt

Etymology 2

From grunt +‎ -le (diminutive suffix).

Noun

gruntle (plural gruntles)

1. A grunting sound.
2. A snort.

Etymology 3

Back-formation from disgruntled.

Verb

gruntle (third-person singular simple present gruntles, present participle gruntling, simple past and past participle gruntled)

1. (humorous) To humour; to induce the opposite effect of causing a person to become disgruntled.

   Synonyms: humour, (humorous) regruntle

Usage notes

To gruntle is not in normal usage. It has gained a certain currency amongst information security specialists to describe a process whereby the negative feelings of a disgruntled user might be reduced, or positive feelings induced.

References

• “gruntle”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
• William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “gruntle”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.