palaver

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Bailey
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palaver

Postby Bailey » Fri Sep 15, 2006 5:17 pm

pa·lav·er (p-lvr, -lävr)
n.
1.
a. Idle chatter.
b. Talk intended to charm or beguile.
2. Obsolete A parley between European explorers and representatives of local populations, especially in Africa.
v. pa·lav·ered, pa·lav·er·ing, pa·lav·ers
v.tr.
To flatter or cajole.
v.intr.
To chatter idly.



[Portuguese palavra, speech, alteration of Late Latin parabola, speech, parable; see parable.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.


ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words AntonymsNoun 1. palaver - flattery intended to persuade
blandishment, cajolery
flattery - excessive or insincere praise
2. palaver - loud and confused and empty talk; "mere rhetoric"
empty talk, empty words, hot air, rhetoric
hokum, meaninglessness, nonsense, nonsensicality, bunk - a message that seems to convey no meaning
Verb 1. palaver - speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
blabber, piffle, prate, prattle, tattle, tittle-tattle, twaddle, gabble, gibber, blab, clack, maunder, chatter
mouth, speak, talk, verbalise, verbalize, utter - express in speech; "She talks a lot of nonsense"; "This depressed patient does not verbalize"
blather, blether, blither, smatter, babble - to talk foolishly; "The two women babbled and crooned at the baby"
2. palaver - influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering; "He palavered her into going along"
blarney, cajole, coax, inveigle, sweet-talk, wheedle
persuade - cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action; twist somebody's arm; "You can't persuade me to buy this ugly vase!"
soft-soap - persuade someone through flattery
browbeat, bully, swagger - discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner; intimidate
3. palaver - have a lengthy discussion, usually between people of different backgrounds
parley - discuss, as between enemies
mark don't-quote-me-on-this Bailey

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Perry
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Postby Perry » Sat Sep 16, 2006 11:12 pm

This word gets a lot of use as a synonym for blah blah in Europe and even Israel.
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