pundit

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English

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WOTD – 15 November 2008

Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Hindi पंडित (paṇḍit) / Urdu پنڈت (panḍit), from Sanskrit पण्डित (paṇḍita, “scholar, learned man, teacher, philosopher”). Doublet of pandit.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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pundit (plural pundits)

  1. 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 June 4, The Observer:
      This week we introduce Jenny Walker, who will be The Observer's expert pundit for the duration of the World Cup.
  2. 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, published 2005, page 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.
  3. (historical) A native surveyor in British India, trained to carry out clandestine surveillance beyond British borders.
    • 1990, Peter Hopkirk, The Great Game, Folio Society, published 2010, page 295:
      At every hundredth pace the Pundit would automatically slip one bead. Each complete circuit of the rosary thus represented ten thousand paces.

Derived terms

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Translations

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See also

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Further reading

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Anagrams

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