1533, "to turn over in the mind," also "to chew cud" (1547), from L. ruminatus, pp. of ruminare "to chew the cud, turn over in the mind," from rumen (gen. ruminis) "gullet," of uncertain origin.
Main Entry: ru·mi·nate Pronunciation: 'rü-m&-"nAt Function: intransitive verb Inflected Forms: -nat·ed;-nat·ing 1: to chew again what has been chewed slightly and swallowed : chew the cud 2: to engage in contemplation
Main Entry: ru·mi·na·tion Pronunciation: "rü-m&-'nA-sh&n Function: noun : the act or process of ruminating: a: the act or process of regurgitating and chewing again previously swallowed food b: obsessive or abnormal reflection upon an idea or deliberation over a choice
[roo-muh-neyt] 
verb, -nat⋅ed, -nat⋅ing.
məˌneɪt
