GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  1.       
Garble (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Garbled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Garbling.] [Formerly, to pick out, sort, OF. grabeler, for garbeler to examine precisely, garble spices, fr. LL. garbellare to sift; cf. Sp. garbillar to sift, garbillo a coarse sieve, L. cribellum, dim. of cribrum sieve, akin to cernere to separate, sift (cf. E. Discern); or perh. rather from Ar. gharbāl, gharbil, sieve.]
    1. To sift or bolt, to separate the fine or valuable parts of from the coarse and useless parts, or from dros or dirt; as, “to garble spices”. [Obs.]

    [1913 Webster]


    2. To pick out such parts of as may serve a purpose; to mutilate; to pervert; as, “to garble a quotation; to garble an account.”

    [1913 Webster]

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