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Webster 1913 Edition


Palaver

Pa-la′ver

,
Noun.
[Sp.
palabra
, or Pg.
palavra
, fr. L.
parabola
a comparison, a parable, LL., a word. See
Parable
.]
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

,
Verb.
T.
&
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Palavered
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Palavering
.]
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. Bronté

Webster 1828 Edition


Palaver

PAL`AVER

, n.
1.
Idle talk.
2.
Flattery; adulation. [This is used with us in the vulgar dialect.]
3.
Talk; conversation; conference; a sense used in Africa, as appears by the relations of missionaries.

PAL`AVER

,
Verb.
T.
To flatter. [In vulgar use.]

Definition 2024


Palaver

Palaver

See also: palaver

German

Alternative forms

  • Palaber (nonstandard; reflecting the informal pronunciation)

Noun

Palaver n (genitive Palavers, no plural)

  1. palaver; idle talk

Declension

palaver

palaver

See also: Palaver

English

Noun

palaver (plural palavers)

  1. (Africa) A village council meeting, a folkmoot
    • 1799, Mungo Park, Travels in the Interior of Africa:
      Here we remained four days, on account of a palaver which was held on the following occasion.
  2. Talk, especially unnecessary talk, fuss.
    • 1886, Henry James, The Princess Casamassima.
      These remarks were received with a differing demonstration: some of the company declaring that if the Dutchman cared to come round and smoke a pipe they would be glad to see him—perhaps he'd show where the thumbscrews had been put on; others being strongly of the opinion that they didn't want any more advice—they had already had advice enough to turn a donkey's stomach. What they wanted was to put forth their might without any more palaver; to do something, or for some one; to go out somewhere and smash something, on the spot—why not?—that very night.
    • 1899, Stephen Crane, Active Service:
      Knowing full well the right time and the wrong time for a palaver of regret and disavowal, this battalion struggled in the desperation of despair.
    • 1985, Justin Richards, Option Lock, p 229:
      Not for the first time, he reflected that it was not so much the speeches that strained the nerves as the palaver that went with them.
  3. A meeting at which there is much talk; a debate, a moot.
    • Carlyle
      This epoch of parliaments and eloquent palavers.
  4. (informal) Disagreement
    I have no palaver with him.

Translations

Verb

palaver (third-person singular simple present palavers, present participle palavering, simple past and past participle palavered)

  1. To discuss with much talk.
    • 1860, Atlantic Monthly, vol. 5, no. 30 (April),
      “That,” he rejoined, “is a way we Americans have. We cannot stop to palaver. What would become of our manifest destiny?”

Synonyms

  • See also Wikisaurus:chatter

Danish

Etymology

Borrowing from English palaver.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /palavɘr/, [pʰaˈlɒwˀɐ], [pʰaˈlæˀwɐ]

Noun

palaver c (singular definite palaveren, plural indefinite palavere)

  1. palaver

Inflection