Timid, shy, or bleating; making the characteristic cry of a sheep or goat.
From Old English 'blætan' meaning 'to bleat.' The word combines the sound imitation of animal calls with a descriptor of nervous or frightened behavior, as bleating animals often signal distress.
This word beautifully captures the sound-meaning connection in language—'blate' literally sounds like what it means, making you feel the nervousness of a sheep! Onomatopoeia like this proves our brains link sounds directly to feelings.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.