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Added 9 October 2026

cradle

/ˈkɹeɪdəl/ noun

Categories: ThingsPlacesUncommon Words

In Latin: cunae Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about cradle at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. A baby bed with sides and rockers.
  2. Where something originated or was nurtured in its early existence.
    the birthplace of civilization
  3. Birth of a person.
    he was taught from the cradle never to cry

verb

  1. Hold gently and carefully.
    He cradles the child in his arms
  2. Bring up from infancy.
  3. Hold or place in or as if in a cradle.
    He cradled the infant in his arms

Origin

From Middle English cradel, credel, from Old English cradol, from Proto-West Germanic *kradul, from Proto-Germanic *kradulaz, from Proto-Germanic *kradô (“(wicker) basket”). Related to cart.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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