'Barmecidal' describes something that provides only the illusion of abundance, like a feast with imaginary dishes.
'Barmecidal' describes something that provides only the illusion of abundance, like a feast with imaginary dishes.
| Word | Barmecidal |
|---|---|
| Date | July 19, 2010 |
| Type | adjective |
| Syllables | bahr-muh-SYE-dul |
| Etymology | "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. |
| Examples | The tax rebate is a Barmecidal windfall, coming as it does in the wake of new hidden taxes on consumer goods and services. |
| Definition | : providing only the illusion of abundance |
Tags: wordoftheday::adjective
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