Etymology Dictionary

PANDER, PANDAR,  a pimp, one who ministers to another's passions.  (L.,—Gk.)   Commonly pander; yet pandar is better.   Much Ado, v. 2. 31; used as a proper name, Troil. i. 1. 98.   M.E. Pandare, shortened form of Pandarus; Chaucer uses both forms, Troil. i. 610, 618.—Lat. Pandarus, the name of the man 'who procured for Troilus the love and good graces of Chryseis; which imputation, it may be added, depends upon no better authority than the fabulous histories of Dictys Cretensis and Dares Phrygius;' Richardson.   In other words, the whole story is an invention of later times.—Gk. Πάνδαρος, a personal name.   Two men of this name are recorded:  (1) a Lycian archer, distinguished in the Trojan army; (2) a companion of Æneas; see Smith's Classical Dict.   Der. pander, vb., Hamlet, iii. 4. 88; pander-ly, adj., Merry Wives, iv. 2. 122; pander-er (sometimes used, unnecessarily, for the sb. pander).