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

Derived Forms

• ˈmaundering, adjective
• ˈmaunderer, noun

Other Words From

• maunder·er 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.

From New York Times

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

From New York Times

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

From The Guardian

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

From New York Times

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.

From The Guardian