pundit

Definition

An expert in a particular field, especially as called upon to provide comment or opinion in the media; a commentator, a critic.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-Iranian *pra- Sanskrit प्र- (pra-) Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- Sanskrit ज्ञा (jñā) Sanskrit प्रज्ञा (prajñā) Prakrit 𑀧𑀡𑁆𑀡𑀸 (paṇṇā)bor.? Sanskrit पण्डा (paṇḍā) Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-Iranian *-tás Sanskrit -इत (-ita) Sanskrit पण्डित (paṇḍita)bor. Hindi पंडित (paṇḍit)bor. Urdu پَنْڈِٹ (panḍiṭ)bor. English pundit Borrowed from Hindi पंडित (paṇḍit) / Urdu پنڈت (panḍit), from Sanskrit पण्डित (paṇḍita, “scholar, learned man, teacher, philosopher”). Doublet of pandit.

Example Sentences

• "This week we introduce Jenny Walker, who will be The Observer's expert pundit for the duration of the World Cup."
• "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."
• "At every hundredth pace the Pundit would automatically slip one bead. Each complete circuit of the rosary thus represented ten thousand paces."

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