RUMINATE

verb (-nated; -nating) Etymology: Latin ruminatus, past participle of ruminari to chew the cud, muse upon, from rumin-, rumen rumen; perhaps akin to Sanskrit romantha act of chewing the cud Date: 1533 transitive verb to go over in the mind repeatedly and often casually or slowly, to chew repeatedly for an extended period, intransitive verb to chew again what has been chewed slightly and swallowed ; chew the cud, to engage in contemplation ; reflect , see: ponder rumination noun ruminative adjective ruminatively adverb ruminator noun