English Explanatory Dictionary

desideratum

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Something that is wished for, or considered desirable, particularly when thought to be essential.

Pronunciation

/dɪˌsɪdəˈɹɑːtəm/ /-ˌzɪ-/ /-ˈɹeɪ-/ En-uk-desideratum.oga /dəˌsɪdəˈɹɑtəm/ [-ɾəm]

Word forms

desideratum desiderata

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin dēsīderātum (“something that is desired”), neuter nominative singular of dēsīderātus, the passive past participle of dēsīderāre (“to desire”), from dēsīderō (“to desire, want, wish for”), from de- (intensifying prefix) + possibly sīdus (“star; constellation”) though the connection is unclear. The English word is cognate with French desideratum, Spanish desiderátum. The plural is derived from Latin dēsīderāta.

Related words

desiderate desideration desiderative desirability desirable desirably desire desirous desirously nondesirable undesirability undesirable undesirableness undesirably undesirous
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