saunter

English

Etymology

Etymology unclear. Attested in the sense “to stroll” from the 1660s; noun sense “a stroll” attested 1828. Likely from earlier term meaning “to muse”, late 15th century, from Middle English santren, of unknown origin. Competing theories exist:

• From Anglo-Norman sauntrer (mid 14th century), from Middle French s'aventurer (“to take risks”); however this is considered unlikely by the OED. Compare Middle English aunter (“adventure”).
• Of Germanic origin, with proposed cognates including German schlendern, Danish slentre, Swedish släntra, and Icelandic slentr, all meaning “to stroll”.

Various fanciful folk etymologies have also been given.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsɔntɚ/
• IPA^(key): /ˈsɔːntə/
• IPA^(key): /ˈsɑntɚ/
• Rhymes: -ɔːntə(ɹ)

Verb

saunter (third-person singular simple present saunters, present participle sauntering, simple past and past participle sauntered)

1. To stroll, or walk at a leisurely pace
   • Masson

     One could lie under elm trees in a lawn, or saunter in meadows by the side of a stream.

Synonyms

• amble
• stroll
• wander

Translations

stroll or walk at a leisurely pace

• Dutch: slenteren (nl)
• Esperanto: vagi
• French: flâner (fr)
• German: müßig umherschlendern, bummeln (to saunter about)
• Greek: σουλατσάρω (el) (soulatsáro)
• Italian: passeggiare (it), vagare (it), camminare (it), girovagare (it), sollazzare (it)
• Maori: whakatīhake, hāereere
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Norwegian: slentre
• Persian: سیر کردن (fa) (seyr kardan)
• Portuguese: passear (pt)
• Russian: прогуливаться (ru) (progulivatʹsja), прохаживаться (ru) (proxaživatʹsja), фланировать (ru) (flanirovatʹ)
• Spanish: pasear (es)
• Swedish: strosa (sv), flanera (sv)

Noun

saunter (plural saunters)

1. A leisurely walk or stroll.
   • 1814, Elizabeth Hervey, Amabel: Volume 1, page 53:

     Caroline […] begged that the drive might be given up for a saunter about the gardens […]

2. A leisurely pace.
3. (obsolete) A place for sauntering or strolling.
   • Young

     That wheel of fops, that saunter of the town.

Translations

a leisurely walk or stroll

• Dutch: slenteren (nl)
• Finnish: käyskennellä
• French: flâner (fr)
• German: Umherschlendern, gemächliche Wanderung; Schlendergang
• Korean: 한가로이 걷다 (han'garoi geotda)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Norwegian: spasertur (no) m
• Portuguese: passeio (pt) m
• Russian: прогулка (ru) (progulka)
• Spanish: paseo (es) m

A leisurely pace

• Russian: медленная походка (medlennaja poxodka)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

Anagrams

• Transue, aunters, natuers, natures, sea turn, seruant, tea urns, tea-urns, unrates