BARMECIDE


Meaning of BARMECIDE in English

adj. & n.

--adj. illusory, imaginary; such as to disappoint.

--n. a giver of benefits that are illusory or disappointing.

Etymology: the name of a wealthy man in the Arabian Nights' Entertainments who gave a beggar a feast consisting of ornate but empty dishes

Oxford English vocab.      Оксфордский английский словарь.