Hypertext Webster Gateway: "rumination"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Rumination \Ru`mi*na"tion\, n. [L. ruminatio: cf. F.
rumination.]
1. The act or process of ruminating, or chewing the cud; the
habit of chewing the cud.
Rumination is given to animals to enable them at
once to lay up a great store of food, and afterward
to chew it. --Arbuthnot.
2. The state of being disposed to ruminate or ponder;
deliberate meditation or reflection.
Retiring full of rumination sad. --Thomson.
3. (Physiol.) The regurgitation of food from the stomach
after it has been swallowed, -- occasionally observed as a
morbid phenomenon in man.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
rumination
n 1: a calm lengthy intent consideration [syn: {contemplation}, {meditation},
{reflection}, {reflexion}, {musing}, {thoughtfulness}]
2: regurgitation of small amounts of food; seen in some infants
after feeding
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