babish meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

babish

adj

/ˈbeɪb.ɪʃ/

Etymology From babe + -ish.

Like a babe; childish; babyish.

Spoons, you know, are to feed us with weak and thin food, even with that which best suiteth with weak stomachs, or with a babish temper.1782–1784? [17th century], The Whole Works of that Eminent Servant of Christ, the late Reverend and much Esteemed Mr. John Bunyan, London: printed for the proprietors, and published by Alex. Hogg, at the King's-Arms, No. 16, Paternoster-Row:
For, if a young gentleman be demure and still of mature, they say he is simple and lacketh wit; if he be bashful, and will soon blush, they call him a babish and ill brought up thing;1864, Roger Ascham, The Whole Works of Roger Ascham, page 125:

1 more example

The rot of schools Of medieval time Is Christmas, a pleasing mime To babish minds, Its tinsel blinds The eyes of Thought, 'Tis rot, rot, all rot; And not for me !1919, Charles Louis Henry Wagner, Cradled Moons: A Book of Poems, page 233:

verb

Etymology From babe + -ish.

Obsolete To make or treat as babish.

The Pharisees had babished the simple people with fained and colde religion, and had tangled theyr consciences with.late 16th century, John Udall, Richardson:
The truth is, what with passing those hard years of Mary's reign in obscurity, without all conference or such manner of study as now might do me service, and what with my natural viciosity of overmuch shamefastness, I am so babished in myself, that I cannot raise up my heart and stomach to utter in talk with other, which (as I may say) with my pen I can express indifferently, without great difficulty.1563, Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury, Letter to Sir William Cecil:

2 more examples

And therefore, in that God by this Office hath advanced you so high, as to set you over his Houshold, Be exhorted so far to know your Place, and the dignity and worth of it, as not to be ashamed of it, nor to be babished in the Execution of it.1676, Jonathan Tuckney, Forty Sermons Upon Several Occasions, page 635:
Thay excusyd hir thus, sothly, To make hir clene of hir foly, And babished me that was old.2012, “The Annunciation”, in David Bevington, editor, Medieval Drama, page 365: