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Webster 1913 Edition


Woolgathering

Wool′gathˊer-ing

,
Adj.
Indulging in a vagrant or idle exercise of the imagination; roaming upon a fruitless quest; idly fanciful.

Wool′gathˊer-ing

,
Noun.
Indulgence in idle imagination; a foolish or useless pursuit or design.
His wits were a
woolgathering
, as they say.
Burton.

Definition 2024


woolgathering

woolgathering

See also: wool-gathering

English

Alternative forms

Noun

woolgathering (usually uncountable, plural woolgatherings)

  1. Gathering fragments of wool torn from sheep by bushes, etc.
  2. Indulging in idle fancies or daydreams.
    • 1911, H.G. Wells, "The Door in the Wall,"
      I had bad times after that—crying at night and woolgathering by day. For two terms I slackened and had bad reports.

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