pabulum

pabulum
pabulum (n.) "food," 1670s, from L. pabulum "fodder, food," from PIE root *pa- "to protect, feed" (see FOOD (Cf. food)) + instrumentive suffix *-dhlom. Pablum (1932), derived from this, is a trademark (Mead Johnson & Co.) for a soft, bland cereal used as a food for weak and invalid people, hence fig. use (attested from 1970, first by U.S. Vice President Spiro Agnew) in reference to "mushy" political prose.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • pabulum — pab u*lum, n. [L., akin to pascere to pasture. See {Pastor}.] 1. The means of nutriment to animals or plants; food; nourishment. [WordNet sense 1] Syn: comestible, edible, eatable, victual, victuals. [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5] 2. Hence: That… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pabulum — *food, aliment, nutriment, nourishment, sustenance, pap …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • pabulum — [pab′yo͞o ləm, pab′yələm] n. [L: see FOOD] 1. food or sustenance 2. nourishment for the mind 3. PABLUM …   English World dictionary

  • pabulum — /pab yeuh leuhm/, n. 1. something that nourishes an animal or vegetable organism; food; nutriment. 2. material for intellectual nourishment. 3. pablum. [1670 80; < L pabulum food, nourishment, equiv. to pa(scere) to feed (akin to FOOD) + bulum n …   Universalium

  • pabulum — pab•u•lum [[t]ˈpæb yə ləm[/t]] n. 1) nut something that nourishes; food 2) intellectual nourishment 3) nut coo a soft, bland cereal for infants • Etymology: 1670–80; < L pābulum food, nourishment =pā(scere) to feed + bulum n. suffix of… …   From formal English to slang

  • pabulum — pašaras statusas T sritis ekologija ir aplinkotyra apibrėžtis Natūralus, šviežias arba konservuotas augalinis ar gyvūninis produktas, iš jo pramoniniu būdu gautas produktas, taip pat šalutinis maisto produktas, skirti gyvūnams šerti tiesiogiai… …   Ekologijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • pabulum — n. food, esp. for the mind (mental pabulum). Etymology: L f. pascere feed …   Useful english dictionary

  • pabulum — noun Etymology: Latin, food, fodder; akin to Latin pascere to feed more at food Date: 1733 1. food; especially a suspension or solution of nutrients in a state suitable for absorption 2. intellectual sustenance 3. something (as writing or speech) …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • pabulum — noun a) food or fodder, particularly that taken in by plants or animals. b) material that feeds a fire …   Wiktionary

  • pabulum — Food or nutriment. [L.] * * * pab·u·lum pab yə ləm n FOOD esp a suspension or solution of nutrients in a state suitable for absorption …   Medical dictionary

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