I. pəˈlavə(r), -läv- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Portuguese palavra word, speech, from Late Latin parabola speech, parable — more at parable
1.
a. : an often prolonged parley usually between persons of different levels of culture or sophistication (as between a 19th century European trader and natives of the African west coast)
b. : conference , discussion
a palaver between union leaders
2.
a. : conversation: as
(1) : profuse, idle, or worthless talk : chatter
(2) : talk intended to deceive : misleading or beguiling speech
b. : jargon 2c, 3a
3. : affair , business
that's your palaver
II. verb
( palavered ; palavered ; palavering -v(ə)riŋ ; palavers )
intransitive verb
: to use palaver: as
a. : to talk profusely or needlessly
b. : parley
c. : to talk idly or beguilingly
transitive verb
1.
a. : to affect in a specified way by palavering
he palavered her into agreeing
b. : to alter the situation of by palavering
palavered himself out of the mess
2. : to use palaver to : cajole , wheedle
alternately abused and palavered his men