Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - wander

 verb  (~ed; ~ing)  Etymology: Middle English wandren, from Old English wandrian; akin to Middle High German ~n to ~, Old English windan to wind, twist  Date: before 12th century  intransitive verb  1.  a. to move about without a fixed course, aim, or goal  b. to go idly about ; ramble ~ing around the house  2. to follow a winding course ; meander  3.  a. to go astray (as from a course) ; stray ~ed away from the group  b. to go astray morally ; err  c. to lose normal mental contact ; stray in thought his mind ~ed  transitive verb to roam over ~ed the halls  • ~ noun  • ~er noun Synonyms:  ~, roam, ramble, rove, traipse, meander mean to go about from place to place usually without a plan or definite purpose. ~ implies an absence of or an indifference to a fixed course fond of ~ing about the square just watching the people. roam suggests ~ing about freely and often far afield liked to roam through the woods. ramble stresses carelessness and indifference to one's course or objective the speaker rambled on without ever coming to the point. rove suggests vigorous and sometimes purposeful roaming armed brigands roved over the countryside. traipse implies a course that is erratic but may sometimes be purposeful traipsed all over town looking for the right dress. meander implies a winding or intricate course suggestive of aimless or listless ~ing the river meanders for miles through rich farmland.