saunter

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 late 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, Dutch slenteren, Danish slentre, Swedish släntra, and Icelandic slentur, all meaning “to stroll”. * From Old French sentier (“path”). In this case, santren would reflect earlier *sa(u)nteren, *senteren /sa(u̯)nˈteːrən/, /sɛnˈteːrən/, with Late Middle English stress shift and concomitant vowel reduction. This etymology is problematic: Old French */ɛn/ is not usually reflected as Middle English /a(u̯)n/, but there are exceptions, such as bran (besides expected bren) "bran". Various fanciful folk etymologies have also been given.

verb

1. To stroll, or walk at a leisurely pace.
   One could lie under elm trees in a lawn, or saunter in meadows by the side of a stream. 1858-1880, David Masson, The Life Of John Milton: 1649-1654
   And, after all, they were once very close, doesn’t Lewis still have the keys to his apartment, you know the way you let someone keep the keys after you’ve broken up, only a little because you hope the person might just saunter in, drunk or high, late some evening, […] 1986-11-24, Susan Sontag, “The Way We Live Now”, in The New Yorker

noun

1. A leisurely walk or stroll.
   Caroline […] begged that the drive might be given up for a saunter about the gardens[…] 1814, Elizabeth Hervey, Amabel, volume 1, page 53
2. A leisurely pace.
3. (obsolete) A place for sauntering or strolling.