obambulate

English

Etymology

First attested in 1614; borrowed from Latin obambulātus, perfect passive participle of obambulō, see -ate (verb-forming suffix).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /əˈbæmbjʊˌleɪt/, /ɑˈbæmbjʊˌleɪt/
• Hyphenation: ob‧am‧bu‧late

Verb

obambulate (third-person singular simple present obambulates, present participle obambulating, simple past and past participle obambulated) (archaic, rare)

1. (intransitive) To walk about; to wander aimlessly.
   • 1989, François Rabelais, “An Epistle by Pantagruel's Limosin”, in The Complete Works of Doctor François Rabelais:

     While we, alas! must still obambulate, Sequacious of the court and courtier's fate : O most infaust who optates there to live! An aulic life no solid joys can give.

   • 2018, Hulta Gertrude, Operation Selector:

     Dreaming of success, wealth and luxury, Deetee obambulated around the set in a leisurely manner.

2. (transitive) To walk or go up to, so as or as if to meet.

Related terms

• amble
• ambling
• ambulate
• deambulate
• obambulation

Latin

Verb

obambulāte

1. second-person plural present active imperative of obambulō