WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
pan•chres•ton
(pan kres′tən),USA pronunciation n.
- Rhetorica proposed explanation intended to address a complex problem by trying to account for all possible contingencies but typically proving to be too broadly conceived and therefore oversimplified to be of any practical use.
- Greek pánchrēston, neuter of pánchrēstos good for everything, equivalent. to pan- pan- + chrēs-, verbid stem of chrâsthai to be useful + -tos verb, verbal adjective, adjectival suffix
- 1625–35