Word of the Day

: June 14, 2012

mandarin

adjective MAN-drin

What It Means

1 : of, relating to, or typical of a public official in China

2 : marked by polished ornate complexity of language

mandarin in Context

"Paradoxically, given his intense intellectuality and mandarin prose, Updike wrote his best work about ordinary life, especially in his tetralogy about Harry 'Rabbit' Angstrom." - From an obituary by Andrew Rosenheim in The Independent (London), January 29, 2009

"Lovecraft managed to genuinely unnerve readers with his haunting monsters and mandarin prose…." - From an article by Geoff Schumacher in Las Vegas CityLife, October 6, 2011

Did You Know?

The Portuguese were the first to refer to a Chinese official as a "mandarin." The word hails from the Portuguese word "mandarium," which developed from Sanskrit "mantrin," a word for "counselor." Mandarins were promoted by successfully completing the imperial Chinese examination system, which was primarily based on the teachings of Confucian texts. In time, "mandarin" became a word for a pedantic official, a bureaucrat, or a person of position and influence. The noun passed into the English language in 1589, and the adjective appeared about 15 years later. You may also know "Mandarin" as a word for the chief dialect of China or be familiar with the mandarin orange. (The fruit's name comes from the orange color of a mandarin official's robe.)