desideratum
[ dih-sid-uh-rey-tuh m, -rah-, -zid- ]
/ dɪˌsɪd əˈreɪ təm, -ˈrɑ-, -ˌzɪd- /
noun, plural de·sid·er·a·ta [dih-sid-uh-rey-tuh, -rah-, -zid-] /dɪˌsɪd əˈreɪ tə, -ˈrɑ-, -ˌzɪd-/.
something wanted or needed.
Origin of desideratum
1645–55; < Latin, noun use of neuter past participle of
dēsīderāre; see
desiderate
Words nearby desideratum
desiccation,
desiccator,
desiderata,
desiderate,
desiderative,
desideratum,
desiderium,
design,
designate,
designated,
designated driver
Definition for desideratum (2 of 2)
desiderata
[ dih-sid-uh-rey-tuh, -rah-, -zid- ]
/ dɪˌsɪd əˈreɪ tə, -ˈrɑ-, -ˌzɪd- /
plural noun, singular de·sid·er·a·tum.
things wanted or needed; the plural of desideratum: “Happily-ever-after” and “eternal love” appear to be the desiderata of the current generation; to whom “fat chance” say those of us who are older, wiser, and more curmudgeonly.
Example sentences from the Web for desideratum
British Dictionary definitions for desideratum (1 of 2)
desideratum
/ (dɪˌzɪdəˈrɑːtəm) /
noun plural -ta (-tə)
something lacked and wanted
Word Origin for desideratum
C17: from Latin; see
desiderate