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Definition of "desideratum" [de•sid•e•ra•tum]

  • Something considered necessary or highly desirable: "The point is not that the artist has 'penetrated the character' of his sitter, that commonplace desideratum of portraiture” ( Robert Hughes). (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "desideratum" in a sentence
  • "The only social desideratum from the perspective of justice might be some H, but a principle of fairness might constrain the way H is allocated, such that it’s not required to feed everyone to the Utility Monster, if there are any in the society."
  • ""Plain English" such a one will call his desideratum, as one might call the viands on a New Cut barrow"
  • "“Plain English” such a one will call his desideratum, as one might call the viands on a"
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