In 1979 I edited the book "Psychological Complexity and Preference: A Hedgehog Theory of Behavior," by Edward L. Walker (Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole, 1980). The word vagulous appears there to modify "wanderings," and in context it means wanderings that are not quite aimless but vague in intent and direction. The author insisted on the word even though it could not be found in any unabridged dictionary at my disposal, and in the end I let him use it--because I knew what he meant! (If I can find the exact citation, I will post it--but it may take some vagulous wanderings to locate it.) --I am very sorry to learn, however, that I can no longer take credit for helping to introduce the word.
Comments by jbergez
jbergez commented on the word vagulous
In 1979 I edited the book "Psychological Complexity and Preference: A Hedgehog Theory of Behavior," by Edward L. Walker (Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole, 1980). The word vagulous appears there to modify "wanderings," and in context it means wanderings that are not quite aimless but vague in intent and direction. The author insisted on the word even though it could not be found in any unabridged dictionary at my disposal, and in the end I let him use it--because I knew what he meant! (If I can find the exact citation, I will post it--but it may take some vagulous wanderings to locate it.) --I am very sorry to learn, however, that I can no longer take credit for helping to introduce the word.
June 6, 2011