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pander
verb

- to do or provide exactly what a person or group wants, especially when it is not acceptable, reasonable or approved of, usually in order to get some personal advantage

(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)

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WORD ORIGIN

Pander stems from the Middle English "Pandarus," a literary character from Geoffrey Chaucer's poem Troilus and Criseyde. Pandarus acts as the go-between to arrange the romantic tryst between the two main characters. Shakespeare wrote a play based on Chaucer's poem and turned the Pandarus character into an indecent and scandalous uncle who arranges the romantic intrigues for his own gain.

The function of Pandarus in Chaucer's and Shakespeare's famous works gave rise to the word "pander," meaning to further other people's illicit amours, indulging the lower tastes and desires of others, or exploiting their weaknesses.

MODERN SLANG

In modern slang, someone who panders might also be referred to as a "pimp." A pimp is a person who finds and manages customers for "ladies of the night."

Pimp has taken on a new meaning in the form of a verb that describes decorating or jazzing something up. This new definition was made popular by the MTV show "Pimp My Ride," in which cars in poor condition are restored and customised with flashy designs and accessories.

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SYNONYMS
pander

cater to, gratify, give in to, indulge, play up to, please, soften up, suck up to, brownnose

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SMUGGLE OWAD INTO TODAY'S CONVERSATION:

"Many companies pander to the wishes of the investor community instead of focusing on how best to run the business."