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palaver

[ puh-lav-er, ‐lah-ver ]
/ pəˈlæv ər, ‐ˈlɑ vər /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR palaver ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

verb (used without object), pa·lav·ered, pa·lav·er·ing.

to talk profusely and idly.
to parley or confer.

verb (used with object), pa·lav·ered, pa·lav·er·ing.

to cajole or persuade.

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Question 1 of 7
What does “blatherskite” mean?
a person given to voluble, empty talk.
an ancient Greek or Roman farce that depended for effect largely upon ludicrous actions and gestures.
a check whose amount has been raised by forgery before cashing.
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Origin of palaver

First recorded in 1710–20 (for the verb); from Portuguese palavra “word, speech, talk,” from Late Latin parabola parable

OTHER WORDS FROM palaver

pa·lav·er·er, pa·lav·er·ist, nounpa·lav·er·ment, nounpa·lav·er·ous, adjective

Words nearby palaver

palatoplegia, palatorrhaphy, palatoschisis, palatum, Palau, palaver, Palawan, palazzo, palazzo pants, pale, palea
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to palaver

conference, dialogue, wheedle, conversation, parley, babble, flatter, discussion, gab, chitchat, clack, blab, chatter, debate, talk, flummery, cajolery

Example sentences from the Web for palaver

British Dictionary definitions for palaver

palaver
/ (pəˈlɑːvə) /

noun

verb

Word Origin for palaver

C18: from Portuguese palavra talk, from Latin parabola parable
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012