wunderkind

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See also: Wunderkind, and Wünderkind

English

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WOTD – 7 October 2007

Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Unadapted borrowing from German Wunderkind, from Wunder (“wonder”) +‎ Kind (“child”). Compare native wonderchild.

Pronunciation

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  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈvʊn.də.kɪnd/, /ˈwʊn.də.kɪnd/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈvʊn.dɚ.kɪnt/, /ˈvʊn.dɚ.kɪnd/, /ˈwʊn.dɚ.kɪnd/, /ˈwʌn.dɚ.kɪnd/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

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wunderkind (plural wunderkinder or wunderkinds)

  1. A child prodigy; a wonderchild.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:child prodigy
  2. A highly talented or gifted individual, especially one who is successful at a young age.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:genius
    • 2009 January 28, Ravi Somaiya, “It’s the Economy, Girlfriend”, in New York Times‎[1]:
      Harriet Pappenheim, a psychotherapist at Park Avenue Relationship Consultants who wrote “For Richer or Poorer,” a 2006 book on money in marriage, said that the repercussions could be acute for Wall Street wunderkinds who define their identities through their job titles and the size of their bonuses.
    • 2021 October 17, Katrin Bennhold, “Fake Polls and Tabloid Coverage on Demand: The Dark Side of Sebastian Kurz”, in The New York Times‎[2], →ISSN:
      The downfall of Austria’s onetime political Wunderkind put a spotlight on the cozy, sometimes corrupt, relationship between right-wing populists and parts of the news media.
    • 2021 December 17, Vanessa Friedman, “The Verdict on the Elizabeth Holmes Trial Makeover”, in The New York Times‎[3], →ISSN:
      When the verdict comes down, the transformation of the wunderkind founder of Theranos from black-clad genius to besuited milquetoast will be an integral part of the story.

Translations

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