meander (verb) - to walk slowly; to wander or wind aimlessly [mee-an-der]
meander as a noun describes a big, looping bend or curve in a river or an aimless journey
meandrous means winding or rambling
BREAKDOWN: The word meander is a toponym picturesquely referencing a river in Turkey. The Menderes River, formerly called Maiandros, is well-known for its winding, twisting loops. Over time, the word came to describe any winding, wandering path and picked up a connotation for unplanned motion.
“Life meanders like a path through the woods. We have seasons when we flourish and seasons when the leaves fall from us, revealing our bare bones. Given time, they grow again.” —Katherine May
[Our Wednesday Wildcards are fascinating and important words that are not necessarily derived from classical roots.]