maunder

[mawn-der]

verb (used without object)

1. to talk in a rambling, foolish, or meaningless way.

2. to move, go, or act in an aimless, confused manner.

   He maundered through life without a single ambition.

maunder

/ ˈmɔːndə /

verb

1. (intr) to move, talk, or act aimlessly or idly

Other Word Forms

• maundering adjective
• maunderer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of maunder¹

First recorded in 1615–25; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of maunder¹

C17: perhaps from obsolete maunder to beg, from Latin mendīcāre; see _mendicant

Example Sentences

“Did I mention I had children? Three. Fascinating creatures,” the marquise maunders on.

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In elementary school, I sat in class with a book in my lap while the teacher maundered on about fractions.

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Yesterday, I was maundering on about what might happen in the 2024 US election.

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Instead we get some philosophical maundering and nifty, nimble tricks.

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This is the Beckettian strain in Scorsese: his characters are no longer tough guys, but wizened old figures maundering away to each other, immobile in wheelchairs or senior-citizen home seats, with blankets over their knees.

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