palaver Hear it!

palaver definition

pa·laver (pə lav′ər)

noun

  1. a conference or discussion, as orig. between African natives and European explorers or traders
  2. talk; esp., idle chatter
  3. flattery; cajolery

Etymology: Port palavra, a word, speech < LL(Ec) parabola, parable

intransitive verb

  1. to talk, esp. idly or flatteringly
  2. to confer

transitive verb

to flatter or wheedle

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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