Meandering

Figure 1: screenshot of my Google Site's website

I like the word meandering. I guess that's why I choose it for the name of my Google Sites website: Mystical Meanderings. Figure 1 shows a screenshot of the home page as it currently looks.

What's the etymology of the word meander?

There is some interesting information to be found on this site, from we learn that it derives from the Greek Μαιανδρος which transliterates to Maiandros and thence to Maeandrus or Maeander in Latin.

It seems that Maiandros or Maeander was a son of Oceanus and Tethys and the father of Cyanea and Canaus:

He was a river-god of Karia (Caria) in Anatolia (modern Turkey). The River Maiandros had its headwaters in the highlands of southern Phrygia and, flowing west through Karia, entered the Aegean Sea opposite the town of Miletos (Miletus). The major neighbouring rivers were the Kaystros (Cayster) to the north and the Indos to the south.

Figure 2 shows an interesting map of the river's mouth and the evolution of silting of Miletus Bay during Antiquity (source). It's remarkable how much the topology has changed over the millenia.

Figure 2: source

Figure 3 shows a Roman Statue of the River God Meander from the Baths of Faustina 170 BC.

Figure 3: the River God Meander

This site provides a good description of the usage of the word:

Ah, the Lazy River: the most wonderful waterpark ride for the indolent among us. After a long day of riding gigantic slides, standing on even more gigantic lines, and trying not to swallow questionable pool water, the Lazy River's meanders are more welcome than the softest bedsheets. There's no fear involved, no skill, no complications; you just give yourself over to the current and let your inner tube meander where it will. And the best part? While you drift along past grinning tikis and sublimely fake palm trees, your thoughts are free to meander too, as aimless and relaxed as the Lazy River itself. 

We'll try not to get sidetracked here: meander commonly functions as a verb to refer to the taking of a twisty, purposelessly circuitous track. A path or road that meanders stretches out in bends, curves, and spirals, taking strange or unnecessary detours and maybe even doubling back on itself. Winding, lazily flowing rivers (even those found at waterparks) are among the most common things said to meander in this way, but the word can also be used to talk about the courses of things like country roads and mountain passes. 

Unless you're navigating a river, though, you'd probably encounter meander in reference to aimless, nonlinear roaming. If you set out on a walk with the intent to meander, you've already kind of defeated yourself, as the word implies a movement without any sort of purpose, motivation, or logic. Meandering is also often thought of as slow and easy, perhaps a result of a relaxed or confused mind. This is the kind of ambling you might do when you've got absolutely no clear thoughts; you're just sort of heading wherever the mood strikes, stopping to smell any flower that attracts you and letting your feet do the thinking. 

Meander is also commonly used a little more figuratively to describe rambling in speech or thought. When giving an important speech or trying to write a poignant letter, it's probably not a good idea to meander from topic to topic, as doing so might make your message boring or nonsensical. However, allowing your mind to meander from time to time can be both relaxing and stimulate creative thinking, as everyone who's ever tried freewriting knows. So when you're actually composing that important speech or letter, or even just trying to come up with ideas for fun, don't be afraid to let your thoughts wander in circles! 

Meander can sometimes function as a noun, too, although this type of usage isn't especially widespread. You might hear someone describe the bends and detours of a river or trail as its meanders (technically, you could call just one such bend a meander, but here the word's mostly used in the plural to refer to curvature as a whole). A meander can also be a long, unfocused trip taken at a gentle pace, full of distractions, changes in course, and general aimlessness. If you were to take your dog to the park and just follow him as he sniffed around, you'd be engaged in a meander.

The same site provides some derivative words:

Meandrous: This adjective characterises something as wandering and undirected either in path or in focus. 

Example: Following the elderly professor's meandrous lecture became difficult. 

Example: Having spent an hour and a half driving over the meandrous country roads, I pulled out a map to make sure I was going in the right direction. 

Meanders: This simple present form of the verb meander is used when a singular third-person subject wanders aimlessly or follows an intricately bending path. 

Example: The stream meanders through woods and plains before reaching a lake. 

Meandered: This preterit form of meander is used when a subject rambled or moved in a twisting, intricate fashion in the past. 

Example: The lexicographer's various examples meandered from subject to subject. 

Meandering: The progressive form of meander is used when a subject is currently moving in a circuitous fashion or roaming without clear purpose. 

Example: Every morning finds the rooster meandering contentedly about his pen.