ruminative
English
[edit]Etymology
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Pronunciation
[edit]Adjective
[edit]ruminative (comparative more ruminative, superlative most ruminative)
- Causing rumination or prone to it; thoughtful.
- Synonyms: ruminous (rare), meditative, thoughtful, pensive, reflective
- Antonyms: unthinking, impulsive, careless
- 1922, F. Scott Fitzgerald, chapter 5, in The Beautiful and Damned[1], archived from the original on 5 March 2011:
- They waited expectantly while he directed a ruminative yawn toward the white smiling moon.
- 1864, Charles Dickens, chapter 12, in Our Mutual Friend[2], archived from the original on 8 April 2011:
- ‘It happened,’ returned the man, with a ruminative air, as he drew his right hand across his chin, and dipped the other in the pocket of his rough outer coat, ‘it happened somewhere about here as I reckon. I don’t think it can have been a mile from here.’
- 1970, Patrick O'Brian, Master and Commander:
- The ruminative 'cello uttered two phrases of its own and then began a dialogue with the viola.
- 2010, Diane Ravitch, The Death and Life of the Great American School System, page 1:
- I found that the chore of reorganizing the artifacts of my professional life was pleasantly ruminative. It had a tonic effect, because it allowed me to reflect on the changes in my views over the years.
- (of an animal) Relating to or characteristic of ruminants; chewing the cud.