Pronunciation: ˌ bär-m ə - ' s ī -d ə l
Variant: or Bar · me · cide \ ' bär-m ə - ˌ s ī d \
Function: adjective
Etymology: Barmecide, a wealthy Persian, who, in a tale of The Arabian Nights' Entertainments, invited a beggar to a feast of imaginary food
Date: 1842
: providing only the illusion of abundance <a Barmecidal feast>