Today's Word

Yesterday's Word

Archives

FAQ

A.Word.A.Day--pander

pander (PAN-duhr) verb intr.

1. To act as a go-between or liaison in sexual intrigues; function as a procurer.

2. To cater to the lower tastes and desires of others or exploit their weaknesses.

[Middle English Pandare, Pandarus, from Old Italian Pandaro, from Latin Pandarus, from Greek Pandaros. After Pandarus, the procurer of Cressida for Troilus in medieval romance.]

"For those who have been fortunate enough to catch it (the movie), it is a powerful comment about that most important and sacred segment of American society - the middle-class - which is where the moral majority resides, whose spending power floats or sinks the American economy and whom the US politicians pander to." Francis Dass, A twisted and surreal `American Beauty', The New Straits Times, Mar 24, 2000

This week's theme: words and phrases from classical mythology.

X-Bonus