maunder

/ˈmɔndər/

Other forms: maundering; maunders; maundered

When you maunder, you talk in a rambling mutter. People being questioned by reporters should try to answer articulately — they shouldn't just maunder in response.

The difference between a great speech and an interminably boring one is that a good speaker keeps it short (and often funny), but a bad one tends to maunder in a mumbling voice. A novelist who tends to have her characters maunder on endlessly needs a skilled editor. Although maunder sometimes also means "wander aimlessly," it doesn't come from the similar meander but probably from a root meaning "to beg."

Definitions of maunder

1. verb

   speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
   synonyms: blab, blabber, chatter, clack, gabble, gibber, palaver, piffle, prate, prattle, tattle, tittle-tattle, twaddle, yammer

   types:

   babble, blather, blether, blither, smatter

   talk foolishly

   type of:

   mouth, speak, talk, utter, verbalise, verbalize

   express in speech
2. verb

   talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
   synonyms: mumble, mussitate, mutter

   type of:

   mouth, speak, talk, utter, verbalise, verbalize

   express in speech
3. verb

   wander aimlessly
   type of:

   cast, drift, ramble, range, roam, roll, rove, stray, swan, tramp, vagabond, wander

   move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment