Etymology: Originally, in sense 1, as plural < post-classical Latin pandectae compendium of Roman civil law made by order of the Emperor Justinian (6th cent., representing the plural of pandectes : see below) < Byzantine Greek πανδέκται compendium of Roman civil law (6th cent.), representing the plural of πανδέκτης (see below). In sense 2 < classical Latin pandectēs a book of universal knowledge, encyclopedia (2nd cent. a.d. in Aulus Gellius, in plural, as the title of a work by Tiro: see Tironian adj.) < Hellenistic Greek πανδέκτης (late 2nd or early 3rd cent. a.d. as the title of a work by Dorotheus) < ancient Greek παν- pan- comb. form + δέκτης receiver < δέχεσθαι to receive ( < the same base as δοκεῖν to seem, think (see dogma n.), classical Latin decus grace (see decorate v.), docēre to teach: see docent adj. and n.) + -της , suffix forming agent nouns. In sense 3 < post-classical Latin pandectes complete Bible (6th cent.). With sense 1 compare Middle French, French pandectes (plural) compendium of Roman civil law (1538).Some Latin forms imply a nominative singular pandecta but this is not in fact recorded. Aulus Gellius sometimes gives the word in Greek transliteration but it does not appear to be directly attested in Greek sources until slightly later.

Etymology: Alteration of pundit n.Compare similar use in French from the late 18th cent. onwards (1791 in the source translated in quot. 1791): see Trésor de la Langue Française s.v. pandit. This perhaps arose as a misprint for, or misreading of, pandeet . An apparently post-dating is perhaps an independent case of confusion arising from the mention of pundit n. and pandect n.¹ in close proximity in an edition of the following:1853 T. B. Macaulay Speeches II. 66/7 In countries to which no translation of the Pandects ever found its way..The Barons..would..have agreed..with the Pundits of Benares. This is rendered by H. Vizetelly in his 1853 ed. as: ‘in countries that..had no translation of the Pandects..You will even find it amongst the Pandects of the Benares.’