palaver Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun flattery intended to persuade
    cajolery; blandishment.
  2. noun loud and confused and empty talk
    rhetoric; empty talk; empty words; hot air.
    • mere rhetoric
  3. verb speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
    prate; chatter; tattle; piffle; gabble; blab; gibber; clack; tittle-tattle; prattle; maunder; blabber; twaddle.
  4. verb influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
    wheedle; coax; inveigle; cajole; sweet-talk; blarney.
    • He palavered her into going along
  5. verb have a lengthy discussion, usually between people of different backgrounds

WordNet

Pa*la"ver noun
Etymology
Sp. palabra, or Pg. palavra, fr. L. parabola a comparison, a parable, LL., a word. See Parable.
Definitions
  1. Talk; conversation; esp., idle or beguiling talk; talk intended to deceive; flattery.
  2. In Africa, a parley with the natives; a talk; hence, a public conference and deliberation; a debate.
    This epoch of parliaments and eloquent palavers. Carlyle.
Pa*la"ver transitive verb & intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Palavered ; present participle & verbal noun Palavering
Definitions
  1. To make palaver with, or to; to used palaver;to talk idly or deceitfully; to employ flattery; to cajole; as, to palaver artfully.
    Palavering the little language for her benefit. C. Bront

Webster 1913