Hypertext Webster Gateway: "palaver"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Palaver \Pa*la"ver\, n. [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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Palaver \Pa*la"ver\, v. 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.
Bront?
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
palaver
n 1: flattery intended to persuade [syn: {blandishment}, {cajolery}]
2: loud and confused and empty talk; "mere rhetoric" [syn: {hot
air}, {empty words}, {empty talk}, {rhetoric}]
v 1: speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
[syn: {chatter}, {piffle}, {prate}, {tittle-tattle}, {twaddle},
{clack}, {maunder}, {prattle}, {blab}, {gibber}, {tattle},
{blabber}, {gabble}]
2: influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or
flattering; "He palavered her into going along" [syn: {wheedle},
{cajole}, {blarney}, {coax}, {sweet-talk}, {inveigle}]
3: have a lengthy discussion, usually between people of
different backgrounds
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