reverie
UK[ˈrevəri]US[ˈrevəri]
n
a state of being pleasantly lost in one's thoughts; a daydream.
n
a piece of music suggesting a dreamy or musing state.
Etymology
the word entered english in the late 14th century from the old french 'reverie', meaning 'revelry, rejoicing' or 'wildness, delirium'. this old french term likely derives from 'rever', meaning 'to dream, to be delirious', though its ultimate origin is obscure, possibly connected to a gallo-roman root. the meaning evolved from a state of wild excitement or delirium to its current, gentler sense of a pleasant, abstracted daydream by the mid-17th century, reflecting a shift from external frenzy to internal, contemplative fantasy.
Analysis
the word is a simplex loanword from french. it is not productively segmented into meaningful sub-parts in modern english spelling.
Examples
she was lost in a reverie, staring out the window at the falling rain.
the soft melody of the piano piece evoked a peaceful reverie.
his question startled her out of her reverie.