Barmecidal

adjective

Bar·​me·​cid·​al ˌbär-mə-ˈsī-dᵊl 

variants or Barmecide

ˈbär-mə-ˌsīd 

: providing only the illusion of abundance

a Barmecidal feast

Did you know?

Barmecide is the name of a family of princes in a tale from The Thousand and One Nights (also known as The Arabian Nights' Entertainment). One prince in the family torments a beggar by inviting him to a fabulous feast, at which all the dishes are imaginary. The poor man plays along with his malicious host, pretending to get drunk on the imaginary wine; he then gets even by knocking down the patronizing royal.

Word History

Etymology

Barmecide, a wealthy Persian, who, in a tale of The Arabian Nights' Entertainments, invited a beggar to a feast of imaginary food

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined above

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