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desideratum

 - 2 dictionary results

de⋅sid⋅er⋅a⋅tum

  [di-sid-uh-rey-tuhm, -rah-, -zid-]
Use desideratum in a Sentence
–noun, plural -ta  [-tuh] .
something wanted or needed.
Origin:
1645–55; < L, n. use of neut. ptp. of dēsīderāre; see desiderate
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To desideratum
de·sid·er·a·tum   (dĭ-sĭd'ə-rā'təm, -rä'-)   
n.   pl. de·sid·er·a·ta (-tə)
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).

[Latin dēsīderātum, from neuter past participle of dēsīderāre, to desire; see desire.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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