Man|da|rin

man|da|rin «MAN duhr ihn», noun, adjective.

–n.

1. an official of high rank under the Chinese Empire. There were nine ranks, distinguished by the color of a certain button worn on the cap.

2. a person important in political or intellectual circles, who is usually elderly or conservative: »

In their first week in office they have had some cool advice from the mandarins of British admistration, the top civil servants (Anthony Lewis).

3. a small, sweet, spicy citrus fruit with a thin, orange-colored, very loose peel and segments that separate easily.

4. the small tree or shrub it grows on.

5. a bright, reddish-orange dye.

–adj.

of, or characteristic of, mandarins; especially intellectual and conservative: »

a mandarin style, mandarin coteries. The future of Vietnam does not belong to a mandarin type of leadership (London Times).

╂[< Portuguese mandarim < Malay mantri < Hindustani < Sanskrit mantrin adviser < a root man- to think]

Man|da|rin «MAN duhr ihn», noun.

1. the main dialect of the Chinese language under the Manchu dynasty, spoken by officials and educated people.

2. the chief Chinese dialect, spoken in northern China, especially the dialect of Peking.