revery
UK[ˈrevəri]US[ˈrevəri]
n
A state of being pleasantly lost in one's thoughts; a daydream.
Etymology
The word 'revery' (more commonly spelled 'reverie') is a journey from disturbance to pleasant abstraction. It entered English from Middle French, where 'reverie' originally signified a state of delirium or wild rapture, a meaning tied to the Old French verb 'resver' (to dream, to wander, to be delirious). The ultimate origin of 'resver' is obscure but may be connected to notions of wandering or revelry. Over time, the English word softened considerably, shedding its earlier connotations of madness or frenzy. It now describes a gentle, often pleasurable, state of idle or dreamy thought, a quiet mental wandering far removed from its tumultuous beginnings.
Analysis
The word is a simplex form. It entered English from Middle French 'reverie', meaning "delirium, rapture, daydream". The French term likely derives from Old French 'resver', meaning "to dream, wander, be delirious", though its ultimate origin is uncertain.
Examples
She stared out the window, lost in a deep revery.
The soft music lulled him into a peaceful revery.
His constant reveries made it difficult for him to focus on the lecture.