pundit

The story

1. Sanskritपण्डा (paṇḍā)
2. Sanskritपण्डित (paṇḍita)
3. Hindiपंडित (paṇḍit)
4. Urduپَنْڈِٹ (panḍiṭ)
5. English todaypundit

Borrowed from Hindi पंडित (paṇḍit) / Urdu پنڈت (panḍit), from Sanskrit पण्डित (paṇḍita, “scholar, learned man, teacher, philosopher”). Doublet of pandit.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 19th c. An expert in a particular field, especially as called upon to provide comment or opinion in the media; a commentator, a critic.
• from 17th c. A learned person in India; someone with knowledge of Sanskrit, philosophy, religion and law; a Hindu scholar.