rove
UK: rəʊv | US: roʊv
vi. to wander or travel without a fixed destination
vt. to wander over or through (a place)
n. the act of wandering or roaming
The word "rove" traces back to Middle English roven, meaning "to shoot arrows at random" or "to wander." Its origins are unclear but may be linked to Old Norse rāfa ("to stray") or Dutch roven ("to rob," implying movement). Over time, it shed its archery connotation and generalized to mean aimless travel. The lack of clear morphemes suggests it evolved as a compact verb, retaining its core idea of motion without direction.
The nomads rove across the desert in search of water.
She loved to rove through the antique markets on weekends.
His mind would often rove during long meetings.
The documentary follows wolves as they rove the Arctic tundra.
Rove no further—this is the place we’ve been seeking.