pa·lav·er (pə-lăv'ər, -lä'vər)
n.

1. 1. Idle chatter.
   2. Talk intended to charm or beguile.
2. Obsolete. A parley between European explorers and representatives of local populations, especially in Africa.

v., -ered, -er·ing, -ers.

v.tr.
To flatter or cajole.

v.intr.
To chatter idly.

[Portuguese palavra, speech, alteration of Late Latin parabola, speech, parable. See parable.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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