Pander \Pan"der\, n. [From Pandarus, a leader in the Trojan army, who is represented by Chaucer and Shakespeare as having procured for Troilus the possession of Cressida.] 1. A male bawd; a pimp; a procurer.
Thou art the pander to her dishonor. --Shak.
2. Hence, one who ministers to the evil designs and passions of another.
Those wicked panders to avarice and ambition. --Burke.
Pander \Pan"der\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pandered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pandering}.] To play the pander for.
{to pander to} v. t. To appeal to (base emotions or less noble desires), so as to achieve one's purpose; to exploit (base emotions, such as lust, prejudice, or hate). [PJC]
Pander \Pan"der\, v. i. To act the part of a pander.
The amendment "says there's a prejudice out there and let's pander to it," said Frank McCloskey, D-Ind.
Since textbook publishers are in the business to make money, they must please, even pander to, state and local adoption committees who are themselves under pressure from the revisionists.
Mr. Clinton campaigned in Connecticut yesterday, no longer on the defensive against Mr. Tsongas and his charges that the governor was a "pander bear" who couldn't win in November.
This power to pander to vanity prompts accusations _ firmly denied _ that prime ministers use the honors to repay political cronies and party fund donors.
"What the Democratic Party needs and what America needs is more courageous lions and less pander bears in the zoo."
Mr. Blanchard's instincts this time tell him to avoid appearing to pander to any interest group.