pundit

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree 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.

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

   “This week we introduce Jenny Walker, who will be The Observer's expert pundit for the duration of the World Cup.”

2. A learned person in India; someone with knowledge of Sanskrit, philosophy, religion and law; a Hindu scholar.

   “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.”

3. A native surveyor in British India, trained to carry out clandestine surveillance beyond British borders.

   “At every hundredth pace the Pundit would automatically slip one bead. Each complete circuit of the rosary thus represented ten thousand paces.”