saunter
Meanings
Plural: saunters
Noun
- a careless leisurely gait
- "he walked with a kind of saunter as if he hadn't a care in the world"
- a leisurely walk (usually in some public place)
- A leisurely walk or stroll.
- A leisurely pace.
- A place for sauntering or strolling.
Verb
- walk leisurely and with no apparent aim
- To stroll, or walk at a leisurely pace.
Origin / Etymology
Etymology unclear. Attested in the sense “to stroll” from the 1660s; noun sense “a stroll” attested 1828. Likely from earlier term meaning “to muse”, late 15th century, from late Middle English santren, of unknown origin. Competing theories exist:
* From Anglo-Norman sauntrer (mid 14th century), from Middle French s'aventurer (“to take risks”); however this is considered unlikely by the OED. Compare Middle English aunter (“adventure”).
* Of Germanic origin, with proposed cognates including German schlendern, Dutch slenteren, Danish slentre, Swedish släntra, and Icelandic slentur, all meaning “to stroll”.
* From Old French sentier (“path”). In this case, santren would reflect earlier *sa(u)nteren, *senteren /sa(u̯)nˈteːrən/, /sɛnˈteːrən/, with Late Middle English stress shift and concomitant vowel reduction.
Various fanciful folk etymologies have also been given.
Synonyms
Scrabble Score: 7
saunter is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL wordsaunter is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
saunter is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary