Definition of PANDER

pander

Plural: panders

Noun

  • someone who procures customers for whores (in England they call a pimp a ponce)
  • A person who furthers the illicit love-affairs of others; a pimp or procurer.
  • An offer of illicit sex with a third party.
  • An illicit or illegal offer, usually to tempt.
  • One who ministers to the evil designs and passions of another.

Verb

Verb Forms: pandered, pandering, panders

  • To gratify or indulge a person's low desires or weaknesses.
  • yield (to); give satisfaction to
  • arrange for sexual partners for others
  • To tempt with, to appeal or cater to (improper motivations, etc.); to assist in gratification.
  • To offer (something or someone) in order to tempt or appeal, especially to base or improper motivations.
  • To offer illicit sex with a third party; to pimp.
  • To act as a pander for (somebody).

Examples

  • He refused to PANDER to his opponent’s ego by complimenting their lucky draw.
  • His latest speech panders to the worst instincts of the electorate.

Origin / 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).

Scrabble Score: 9

pander: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
pander: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
pander: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 11

pander: valid Words With Friends Word