To prate is to talk on and on in a way that is empty, boring, or a bit full of yourself — a lot of words that do not really say much.

To prate is to talk on and on To prate就是滔滔不絕地講個不停 in a way that is empty, boring, or a bit full of yourself講得空洞、無聊，或有點自以為是 — a lot of words that do not really say much講了很多話卻沒真的說出什麼.

It is an old, bookish verb. Ordinary people almost never say it in speech now; they say go on, ramble, or talk nonsense.

It is an old, bookish verb這是一個古老、書面語的動詞. Ordinary people almost never say it in speech now一般人現在講話幾乎不會用它; they say go on, ramble, or talk nonsense他們會說go on、ramble或talk nonsense.

You may still meet it in stories and older writing, often with a sharp feeling: the speaker is tired of the talk. There is also a rare noun, prate, meaning that kind of empty talk.

You may still meet it in stories and older writing你還是可能在故事和較舊的文章裡遇到它, often with a sharp feeling常常帶著一種尖銳的感覺: the speaker is tired of the talk說話的人已經受夠了這些話. There is also a rare noun, prate也有一個少見的名詞prate, meaning that kind of empty talk指的就是那種空洞的話.

It is not a kind word. Though actually, a close cousin in some other languages just means “to talk” with no insult at all; in English the sour taste is part of the word.

It is not a kind word這不是一個友善的詞. Though actually不過其實, a close cousin in some other languages在其他一些語言裡一個很接近的親戚字 just means "to talk" with no insult at all就只是「講話」的意思，完全沒有貶意; in English在英文裡, the sour taste is part of the word那種帶酸味的感覺是這個字本身的一部分.