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"Obambulate."

Wordsmith presents the first in a series of "five words that appear to have been coined after this year's presidential candidates."

obambulate

PRONUNCIATION:
(o-BAM-byuh-layt)

MEANING:
verb tr.: To walk about.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin ob- (towards, against) + ambulare (to walk). Ultimately from the Indo-European root ambhi- (around) that is also the source of ambulance, alley, preamble, and bivouac. The first print citation of the word is from 1614.

USAGE:
"We have often seen noble statesmen obambulating (as Dr. Johnson would say) the silent engraving-room, obviously rehearsing their orations." The Year's Art; J.S. Virtue & Co.; 1917.

Full post as published by Althouse on October 20, 2008 (boomark / email).