v.
Pronunciation: ' wän-d ə r
Function: verb
Inflected Form: wan · dered ; wan · der · ing \ -d( ə -)ri ŋ \
Etymology: Middle English wandren, from Old English wandrian; akin to Middle High German wandern to wander, Old English windan to wind, twist
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
1 a : to move about without a fixed course, aim, or goal b : to go idly about : RAMBLE < wander ing around the house>
2 : to follow a winding course : MEANDER
3 a : to go astray (as from a course) : STRAY < wander ed away from the group> b : to go astray morally : ERR c : to lose normal mental contact : stray in thought <his mind wander ed >
transitive verb : to roam over < wander ed the halls>
– wander noun
– wan · der · er \ -d ə r- ə r \ noun
synonyms WANDER , ROAM , RAMBLE , ROVE , TRAIPSE , MEANDER mean to go about from place to place usually without a plan or definite purpose. WANDER implies an absence of or an indifference to a fixed course <fond of wandering about the square just watching the people>. ROAM suggests wandering about freely and often far afield <liked to roam through the woods>. RAMBLE stresses carelessness and indifference to one's course or objective <the speaker rambled on without ever coming to the point>. ROVE suggests vigorous and sometimes purposeful roaming <armed brigands roved over the countryside>. TRAIPSE implies a course that is erratic but may sometimes be purposeful < traipsed all over town looking for the right dress>. MEANDER implies a winding or intricate course suggestive of aimless or listless wandering <the river meanders for miles through rich farmland>.