mehmandar means an official courier appointed to escort an important traveller in Persian-speaking countries and the Indian subcontinent. It carries an Arena rating of 1410, earned across 13 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, mehmandar ranks #1,666 of 17,128 for Most Ponderous Words, #2,675 of 17,149 for Most Exacting Words, #3,493 of 17,140 for Most Whimsical Words, #3,511 of 17,130 for Most Beautiful Words.
mehmandar is pronounced /ˈmeɪməndɑː/.
Why “mehmandar” is a great word
An official appointed to escort and attend to an important traveler, especially a diplomat, through a foreign or unfamiliar jurisdiction. Borrowed from Persian مهماندار (mehmândâr), a compound of مهمان (mehmân, 'guest') and the suffix ـدار (-dâr, 'keeper, holder, one who has'). Unlike a 'guide,' who merely shows the way, or a 'courier,' who is a bearer of dispatches, the mehmandar is an instrument of state protocol—a politicized keeper of the guest. He is the mounted figure in dusty regalia meeting the caravan at the frontier river; the precise official ensuring the correct carpets are unrolled and the correct gates are opened; the living buffer between the honored visitor and the chaotic, unmapped country beyond. In his silent attendance, hospitality reveals itself as a solemn transaction of power and protection.
Etymology
Borrowed from Persian مهماندار (mehmândâr); compound of مهمان (mehmân, “guest”) and ـدار (-dâr, “keeper, holder, one who has”).
noun
- An official courier appointed to escort an important traveller in Persian-speaking countries and the Indian subcontinent.e.g.“His mehmandar stood by, fresh as a clover from their walk, his arms crossed on his Aiantian chest.” — 1974, Guy Davenport, Tatlin!:
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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