pathfindern.
/ˈpɑːθˌfʌɪndə/, /ˈpaθˌfʌɪndə/, U.S. /ˈpæθˌfaɪndər/ Originally U.S.
1.
a. A person who finds or marks a path or way; an explorer.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabitant > colonist or settler > [noun] > frontiersman or pioneer
dew-beatera1670
frontier1677
frontierman1782
pathfinder1840
frontager1893
old residenter1898
society > travel > aspects of travel > traveller > [noun] > explorer or discoverer
finder1405
explorer1577
Columbus1593
pioneera1817
explorator1836
pathfinder1840
path-cleaver1896
trail-blazer1908
trail-hound1931
society > travel > aspects of travel > guidance in travel > [noun] > one who guides or leads > pathfinder
pathfinder1840
1840 J. F. Cooper (title) The pathfinder.
1860 W. Whitman Leaves of Grass (new ed.) 425 The path-finder, penetrating inland, weary and long.
1876 G. Bancroft Hist. U.S. (rev. ed.) I. ii. 32 A great forerunner among the pathfinders across the continent.
1970 P. Berton National Dream iv. i. 148 Axemen, following the pathfinders blazes, hacked the lines clear of brush.
b. In extended use: a person who or thing which opens up new ways; esp. a person who seeks out or disseminates new ideas or ways; a trailblazer, a trendsetter.
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the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > [noun] > pioneering or breaking new ground > a pioneer
pioneer1605
outstarter1738
advance guard1759
path-breaker1843
pathfinder1847
torch-bearer1847
path-hewer1879
pacesetter1895
pacemaker1905
trail-blazer1908
style-setter1959
1847 R. W. Emerson Poems 169 Sharpest-sighted god.., Path-finder, road-builder, Mediator, royal giver.
1898 W. James Coll. Ess. & Rev. (1920) 408 Philosophers are after all like poets. They are path-finders.
1932 C. Fuller Louis Trigardt's Trek 18 These were the ‘pathfinders’ of the greater movement that followed in their wake.
1984 B. Reid So Much Love viii. 129 We were path-finders. In the British theatre nobody before had spoken about Lesbianism.
2003 St. Petersburg Times (Florida) (Nexis) 25 Feb. (Citrus Times section) 1 Although Fox has clearly been the trash-television pathfinder, other networks have been quick to jump on the downhill rolling bandwagon.
c. In the Scouts and Guides: a person who has attained a certain level of skill in giving directions or finding the way, so as to qualify for a proficiency badge or other emblem. Also: a member of a branch of Guides with the name Pathfinders; a member of any of various youth organizations with the name Pathfinders.
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society > society and the community > social relations > an association, society, or organization > specific societies or organizations > [noun] > specific youth organizations > awards
proficiency badge1882
tenderfoot1908
pathfinder1911
society > society and the community > social relations > an association, society, or organization > specific societies or organizations > [noun] > specific youth organizations > members of scouts or guides
Boy Scout1908
patrol leader1908
scout1908
scoutmaster1908
tenderfoot1908
captain1909
Girl Guide1909
Girl Scout1909
lieutenant1909
pathfinder1911
sea scout1911
rosebud1914
brownie1916
sixer1916
tenderpad1916
Brown Owl1918
rover1918
Rover Scout1918
ranger1920
tawny owl1921
Cub1922
Akela1924
scouter1930
Guider1931
den mother1936
Queen's Guide1946
Queen's Scout1952
Venture Scout1966
Beaver1975
skipper1986
1908 R. S. S. Baden-Powell Scouting for Boys iii. 162 Among the Red Indian scouts the man who was good at finding his way in a strange country was termed a ‘Pathfinder’.]
1911 Boy Scout Tests 244 Pathfinder Badge. It is necessary to know every lane, by-path, and short cut for a distance of at least two miles in every direction around the local Scouts' headquarters.
1914 Girl Guides' Gaz. Jan. 8 (in figure) Girl Guide Proficiency Badges... Hospital Nurse..Pathfinder..Flyer.
1928 Observer 5 Feb. 16/5 Before the war ‘Pathfinders’ were founded. This was the first German attempt to apply the rules and regulations of Boy Scouts as known in Britain.
1986 Scouting Mar. 6/3 The Pathfinder Award is the worst, being a bright luminous green.
2002 London Free Press (Nexis) 6 Apr. f5 We are the 77th Pathfinders (12–15-year-old members of Girl Guides of Canada (Guides du Canada)).
d. In form Pathfinder. (In plural) an Anglican organization for children of secondary school age founded in 1952; (in singular) a member of this; (later also) a member of any of various similar Christian youth organizations.
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society > society and the community > social relations > an association, society, or organization > specific societies or organizations > [noun] > specific youth organizations > members of other youth organizations
wander-bird1924
Wandervogel1928
4-H'er1935
pathfinder1960
Sea Cadet1976
1960 T. L. Livermore in R. E. H. Bowdler Pathfinder Syllabus Outl. Notes—Year 1 3 Pathfinders is an Anglican attempt to meet the special needs of secondary schoolchildren.
1962 Orbit Jan. 3/2 Pathfinders regard the Lord Himself as their real Pathfinder Leader.
1989 Church Times 10 Mar. 20/5 (advt.) CPAS are wanting to appoint a person of informed evangelical conviction and of proven management ability to be responsible for its CYFA, Pathfinder, Explorer/Climber/Scrambler Sections.
2002 Northern Times (Austral.) (Nexis) 22 Nov. Money raised will help send the church's Pathfinders youth group to the Pathfinders Camporee in South Australia.
2. Botany. = nectar guide n. at nectar n. Compounds 3. Now rare.
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the world > plants > part of plant > plant substances > [noun] > nectar or honey-dew > part of plant secreting > markings showing location of
honeyguide1879
nectar mark1881
nectar guide1885
pathfinder1889
nectar spot1892
1889 Bot. Gaz. 14 120 In D. Ajacis, according to Sprengel.., the upper petals also form the pathfinders by a variation in color.
1903 Amer. Naturalist 37 378 The pathfinders of the purple-red Lamium maculatum are dark red with white markings.
3. An aircraft or pilot sent ahead of bombing aircraft to locate and mark out the target for attack.
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society > travel > air or space travel > a means of conveyance through the air > aeroplane > [noun] > used in warfare > aircraft marking target for bombers
spotter1904
pathfinder1943
society > travel > air or space travel > people who fly in aircraft or spacecraft > [noun] > person in control of aircraft or spacecraft > person in control of aircraft > air force pilot > flying in specific position
tail-end Charlie1941
pathfinder1943
wing-man1946
1943 Times 25 Nov. 4/4 Red tracer bullets were continually fired from the ground at the pathfinders' flares.
1959 R. Collier City that wouldn't Die i. 22 As pathfinders their function was to spotlight the target..with thousands of chandelier flares and incendiary bombs.
1977 Times 10 June 16/3 A former wartime Path~finder with DFC and Bar.
1992 A. J. Levine Strategic Bombing of Germany, 1940–45 iv. 52 Visibility was bad, and some Pathfinders had to drop their marker bombs on H2S.
Compounds
pathfinder prospectus n. Business a prospectus which contains information relating to the proposed flotation of a company but does not state the expected price of shares.A pathfinder prospectus is issued prior to an official prospectus.
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society > trade and finance > stocks and shares > [noun] > specific operations or arrangements > promoting joint-stock company > related documentation
red herring1935
pathfinder prospectus1984
1984 Times 23 Aug. 15/1 There will be a ‘pathfinder’ or ‘red herring’ prospectus, circulated among the institutions..in the two to three weeks before the issue.
1997 Investors Chron. 19 Sept. 77/3 The pathfinder prospectus is expected at the end of September.
2002 Financial Times (Nexis) 6 Dec. 28 Mr Davidson said he would shortly appoint a broker to the floats, ahead of a pathfinder prospectus expected next week.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1840