pander

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English

WOTD – 18 July 2006

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English pandare, from Chaucer’s character Pandare (in Troilus and Criseyde; see also Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida), from Italian Pandaro (found in Boccaccio), from Latin Pandarus (found in Greek mythology), from Ancient Greek Πάνδαρος (Pándaros).

Pronunciation

Noun

pander (plural panders)

  1. A person who furthers the illicit love-affairs of others; a pimp or procurer.
    Synonyms: panderer; see also Thesaurus:pimp
    • 1609, Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida, act 3:
      […] if ever you prove false one, to another since I have taken such paine to bring you together let all pittifull goers betweene be cald to the worlds end after my name, call them all Panders, let all constant men be Troylusses all false woemen Cressids, and all brokers betweene panders
    • 1992, Moncrieff/Kilmartin/Enright, translating Marcel Proust, Swann’s Way, Folio Society 2005, p. 190:
      It was not only the brilliant phalanx of virtuous dowagers, generals and academicians with whom he was most intimately associated that Swann so cynically compelled to serve him as panders.
  2. An offer of illicit sex with a third party.
  3. An illicit or illegal offer, usually to tempt.
  4. (by extension) One who ministers to the evil designs and passions of another.
    • c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, , page 282, column 1:
      Camillo was his helpe in this, his Pandar:
      There is a Plot against my Life, my Crowne;
      All's true that is mistrusted: that false Villaine,
      Whom I employ'd, was pre-emplot'd
    • 1796, Edmund Burke, A Letter from the Right Honourable Edmund Burke to a Noble Lord, on the Attacks Made upon Him and His Pension, , 10th edition, London: J. Owen, , and F and C Rivington, , →OCLC:
      Those wicked panders to avarice and ambition.
    • 1944 May, Gilbert E. Fuller Jr, “Chanute and Points West”, in The Atlantic‎:
      Two small Hindu boys were waiting for me outside—small for their years (about fourteen) but infinitely worldly-wise. Hindu boys are, first, panders, and second, remarkably skillful and pertinacious beggars.

Derived terms

Translations

pimp or procurer — see pimp
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Verb

pander (third-person singular simple present panders, present participle pandering, simple past and past participle pandered)

  1. (intransitive) To tempt with, to appeal or cater to (improper motivations, etc.); to assist in gratification.
    His latest speech panders to the worst instincts of the electorate.
    • 2020 July 29, Howard Johnston, “Reversing Beeching: just how serious is the DfT?”, in Rail, page 30:
      [...] both the Conservatives and Labour are guilty of pandering to the road lobby at the time of Beeching's The Reshaping of Britain's Railways report published in 1963.
  2. (transitive) To offer (something or someone) in order to tempt or appeal, especially to base or improper motivations.
    • 1980 April 19, Mitzel, “Barbre Murder Grand Jury: Puccini Outtake”, in Gay Community News, page 1:
      Who knows what Brill really thought? But he pandered the rumor linking Spear to a whole string of dastardly deeds.
  3. (intransitive) To offer illicit sex with a third party; to pimp.
  4. (transitive, obsolete) To act as a pander for (somebody).

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

See also

Anagrams

Danish

Pronunciation

Noun

pander c

  1. indefinite plural of pande

Latin

Pronunciation

Verb

pander

  1. first-person singular present passive subjunctive of pandō
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