woolgather means to daydream. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 83 out of 100.
woolgather is pronounced /ˈwʊl(ˌ)ɡæðəɹ/.
Why “woolgather” is a great word
WOOLGATHER — [Verb] To indulge in idle daydreaming or absentminded wandering of thought. It is a back-formation from the noun 'woolgathering' (first recorded in the mid-16th century), itself from the literal practice of wandering to gather tufts of wool caught on bushes, figuratively suggesting aimless mental activity. Unlike "muse," which implies a deeper, creative contemplation, or "ponder," which denotes deliberate consideration, to woolgather is to let the mind drift without anchor or intent. It is the eyes glazing over a spreadsheet to follow a sunbeam's track across the desk, the half-heard conversation dissolving into the hum of traffic, the mental tracing of a crack in the ceiling into a map of nowhere—a gentle squandering of attention on the world's loose threads.
verb
- To daydream.“I had bad times after that—crying at night and woolgathering by day. For two terms I slackened and had bad reports.”