pundit
English
WOTD – 15 November 2008
Alternative forms
Etymology
Borrowed from Hindi पण्डित (paṇḍit), from Sanskrit पण्डित (paṇḍita, “scholar, learned man, teacher, philosopher”).
Noun
pundit (plural pundits)
- An expert in a particular field, especially as called upon to provide comment or opinion in the media; a commentator, a critic. [from 19th c.]
- 2006, The Observer, 4 Jun 2006:
- This week we introduce Jenny Walker, who will be The Observer's expert pundit for the duration of the World Cup.
- 2006, The Observer, 4 Jun 2006:
- A learned person in India; someone with knowledge of Sanskrit, philosophy, religion and law; a Hindu scholar. [from 17th c.]
- 1888, Rudyard Kipling, ‘On the City Wall’, In Black and White, Folio Society 2005, p. 430:
- Pundits in black gowns, with spectacles on their noses and undigested wisdom in their insides; bearded headmen of the wards; [...] all these people and more also you might find in the white room.
- 1888, Rudyard Kipling, ‘On the City Wall’, In Black and White, Folio Society 2005, p. 430:
- (historical) A native surveyor in British India, trained to carry out clandestine surveillance beyond British borders.
- 1990, Peter Hopkirk, The Great Game, Folio Society 2010, p. 295:
- At every hundredth pace the Pundit would automatically slip one bead. Each complete circuit of the rosary thus represented ten thousand paces.
- 1990, Peter Hopkirk, The Great Game, Folio Society 2010, p. 295:
Derived terms
Translations
a self-professed expert
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a Hindu scholar
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.
Translations to be checked
Anagrams
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