Saunter

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈsɔntɚ/

Definitions

1. To move forward by walking slowly and without hurry, showing a relaxed and casual attitude
2. To stroll along at an unhurried pace with an air of ease and leisure
3. To proceed on foot at a leisurely and comfortable speed, often appearing carefree

Etymology: The most striking thing about "saunter" is how little anyone agrees on where it came from. It first appears in the sense "to stroll" in the 1660s, and the noun for "a stroll" follows in 1828, but the verb's ancestry remains unsettled. Its earliest form is the late Middle English "santren," meaning "to muse," which itself has no certain origin. Several explanations have been proposed. One links it to Old French "sentier," meaning "path," suggesting a walker idly following a track. Another connects it to Anglo-Norman "sauntrer," from the Middle French "s'aventurer," "to take risks," though the Oxford English Dictionary considers this unlikely. A third theory points to Germanic roots, with cognates in German "schlendern," Dutch "slenteren," and Swedish "släntra," all meaning "to stroll," which gives the Germanic idea the most support among these options. Henry David Thoreau, writing in "Walking," offered his own guesses, deriving the word from "Sainte Terre" ("holy land") or "sans terre" ("without land"). Later commentators dismissed both as far-fetched, and the playful tradition of fanciful explanations continues to surround the word.

Synonyms: stroll, wander, meander, ramble, amble

Antonyms: rush, hasten, sprint