2007-05-21 20:23:33 · 7 answers · asked by Sweet 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
its someone who listens in on other peoples conversations
2007-05-21 20:27:08 · answer #1 · answered by stephanie l 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An eavesdropper is someone who listens in on private conversations. It comes from the days when houses were lower, and the roofs started nearer the ground. The eaves are the edge of the roof ,so people could stand outside the house and listen through the gap between the roof & the wall at the eaves. Hope this helps
2007-05-22 03:34:57 · answer #2 · answered by SKCave 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Eavesdropper. It's a cool word. The area of the roof that sticks out past a house is called the eaves. If you're standing under the eaves, you can hear what's going on inside the house.
2007-05-22 03:29:59 · answer #3 · answered by backwardsinheels 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Someone who secretly listens to private conversations; it probably comes from someone who stands under the drops (as in rain) from the eaves (edges of a roof) of a house.
2007-05-22 03:31:44 · answer #4 · answered by pdani 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's someone who secretly listens in on conversations; relating to standing under the eaves of a home to listen.
In the original Anglo-Saxon it was yfæsdrypæ.
2007-05-22 03:31:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
An eavesdropper is someone who listens in on conversations that they aren't part of to gain information or just be plain nosy. Not sure of the origin of the term, though.
2007-05-22 03:27:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Scroll down to Ken's answer and you will know where the phrase comes from as well as the definition.
http://www.wordwizard.com/ch_forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=18875
2007-05-22 03:29:54 · answer #7 · answered by whatever 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋