The word "bedraggle" is spelled as /bɪˈdræɡəl/. The IPA phonetic transcription explains the pronunciation of the word, which means to make something or someone wet and dirty. The first syllable "bi" is pronounced as "bi" with a short "i" sound, followed by "dræg" with a soft "g" sound. The last syllable "əl" is pronounced as "əl" with a short "u" sound. The spelling of "bedraggled" can be confusing because some people might think it's spelled as "bedraged." However, it's important to remember that the correct spelling is "bedraggle."
Bedraggle is a verb that refers to the act of making something, usually clothing or hair, wet, dirty, or untidy due to dragging or dripping in a messy manner. Derived from the word "draggle," bedraggle specifically emphasizes the element of being soiled or disheveled as a result of being dragged through or soaked in a substance. It generally implies that the item or person in question had previously been clean or neat but has been rendered in a disheveled state. This term is often used within the context of rain, mud, or water splashes.
When something or someone is bedraggled, it suggests a lack of tidiness or carelessness in appearance. For instance, after walking through a heavy rainstorm without an umbrella, one's hair may become bedraggled, appearing messy and dripping with water. Similarly, if a person accidentally steps into a puddle, their shoes and pants may become bedraggled, covered in mud and water stains.
The term can also be used metaphorically to describe someone who appears disheveled or worn out due to exhaustion, stress, or troubling circumstances. In this sense, it is often used to depict a person's emotional or mental state rather than their physical appearance.
Overall, to bedraggle implies the dampening, soiling, and disarray caused by dragging or immersion in a substance, whether it be literal or figurative, resulting in an untidy or disheveled appearance.
To soil the clothes by suffering them in walking to reach the dirt.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "bedraggle" is derived from the combination of two words: "be-" and "draggle".
The prefix "be-" in this context is an intensifier, indicating a thoroughly or completely state. It is frequently used to form verbs from nouns or adjectives.
The verb "draggle" means to make something wet, dirty, or untidy, particularly by trailing it through mud or water. It comes from the Middle English word "draggen", which means "to drag", and can be traced back to the Old Norse word "dragga".
When "be-" is added as a prefix to "draggle", it intensifies the meaning, emphasizing the thorough drenching or dirtying of something. Thus, "bedraggle" means to thoroughly wet, dirty, or dishevel something, typically by dragging it through mud or water.