janglest

Verb

jangle (third-person singular simple present jangles, present participle jangling, simple past and past participle jangled)

1. (transitive) To cause (something) to make a rattling metallic sound.
   • Now ſee what noble and moſt ſoueraigne reaſon / Like ſweet bells iangled, out of time, and harſh, /That vnmatcht forme, and ſtature of blowne youth / Blaſted with extacie, […]c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke: […] (Second Quarto), London: […] I[ames] R[oberts] for N[icholas] L[ing] […], published 1604...
2. (figuratively, transitive) To express or say (something) in an argumentative or harsh manner.
   • You always could / Find that soft spot in me when I was angry / You always could / Jangle everything that I would say / Until you got it your way1978, Ashford & Simpson, “You Always Could”, in Is It Still Good to Ya
3. (figuratively, transitive) To irritate or jar (something).
   • The sound from the next apartment jangled my nerves.
4. (intransitive) To make a rattling metallic sound.
   • A ſincere Heart that would ſerve God with his beſt, findeth more in a duty, than he could expect: and by Praying gets more of the fervency and Ardours of praying, as a Bell may be long a raiſing, but when it is up it jangleth not as it did at firſt.a. 1678, Tho[mas] Manton, “[The Transfiguration of Christ.] Sermon II.”, in Christs Temptation and Transfiguration, Practically Explained and Improved in Several Sermons, London: [s.n.], published...
5. (archaic, intransitive) To speak in an angry or harsh manner.
   • What jangleſt thou Jedburgh? thou jags for nought, / There ſhal a guilful groom dwell thee within, / The towre that thou truſts in, as the truth is, / Shal be traced with a trace, trow thou none other: […]1745, “The Prophesie of Waldhave”, in The Whole Prophecies of Scotland, England, France, Ireland and Denmark; […], Edinburgh; London: […] M[ary] Cooper, […], →OCLC, page 25
6. (archaic, intransitive) To quarrel verbally; to wrangle.
   • Good witts will be iangling, but gentles agree, / This ciuill warre of wittes were much better vſed / On Nauar and his Bookmen, for heere tis abuſed.c. 1595–1596 (date written), W. Shakespere [i.e., William Shakespeare], A Pleasant Conceited Comedie Called, Loues Labors Lost. […] (First Quarto), London: […] W[illiam] W[hite] for Cut[h]bert Burby...

   Synonyms:

   squabble

See all 11 meanings of jangle