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desideratum

[ dih-sid-uh-rey-tuh m, -rah-, -zid- ]
/ dɪˌsɪd əˈreɪ təm, -ˈrɑ-, -ˌzɪd- /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR desideratum ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural de·sid·er·a·ta [dih-sid-uh-rey-tuh, -rah-, -zid-] /dɪˌsɪd əˈreɪ tə, -ˈrɑ-, -ˌzɪd-/.

something wanted or needed.

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Question 1 of 10
Which of the options below is the best punctuation for the sentence? It__s your turn to pick the movie __ but your sister gets to pick the board game we _ re going to play.
Its your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.
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It’s your turn to pick the movie, but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.
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Origin of desideratum

1645–55; < Latin, noun use of neuter past participle of dēsīderāre; see desiderate

Words nearby desideratum

desiccation, desiccator, desiderata, desiderate, desiderative, desideratum, desiderium, design, designate, designated, designated driver

Definition for desideratum (2 of 2)

desiderata
[ dih-sid-uh-rey-tuh, -rah-, -zid- ]
/ dɪˌsɪd əˈreɪ tə, -ˈrɑ-, -ˌzɪd- /

plural noun, singular de·sid·er·a·tum.

things wanted or needed; the plural of desideratum: “Happily-ever-after” and “eternal love” appear to be the desiderata of the current generation; to whom “fat chance” say those of us who are older, wiser, and more curmudgeonly.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to desideratum

requirement, precondition, prerequisite, fundamental, obligation, essential, urgency, use, right, wish, commitment, demand, specification, stipulation, qualification, need, provision, condition, concern, desire

Example sentences from the Web for desideratum

British Dictionary definitions for desideratum (1 of 2)

desideratum
/ (dɪˌzɪdəˈrɑːtəm) /

noun plural -ta (-tə)

something lacked and wanted

Word Origin for desideratum

C17: from Latin; see desiderate

British Dictionary definitions for desideratum (2 of 2)

desiderata
/ (dɪˌzɪdəˈrɑːtə) /

noun

the plural of desideratum
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012