How did dander acquire its "temper" sense? There are several theories, though the evidence is inconclusive. It has been proposed that the meaning comes from the image of an angry person tearing out their hair by the fistful, scattering dandruff in the process. Some think it comes from a West Indian word dander, which refers to a kind of ferment and suggests "rising" anger (in English, ferment can mean "a state of unrest or excitement"). Others have suggested that the "anger" sense comes from the Dutch phrase op donderen, meaning "to burst into a sudden rage."
Examples of dander in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebThe vacuum features four-stage filtration with a HEPA filter that removes 99.9 percent of dust, debris, and pet dander measuring 0.3 microns.—Nor'adila Hepburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Jan. 2024 Designed with a 120-watt motor, the vacuum can pick up all the dirt, dust, and pet dander scattered on carpets and hardwood floors.—Amy Schulman, Peoplemag, 3 Jan. 2024 Accuweather rated Monday’s air quality as fair, with low levels of tree, ragweed and grass pollen but high levels of mold and dust and dander.—Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2024 Triggers include allergens such as pet dander and dust, exercise and frigid air.—Andrew Abrahams, Peoplemag, 2 Feb. 2024 It’s built with a filtration system that traps 99.9% of common household allergens, including pesky pet dander.—Andrea Navarro, Glamour, 24 Nov. 2023 This powerhouse cleans rooms up to 2,250 square feet in under one hour, removing dust, pollen, pet dander, dust mite debris, smoke, and more.—Lauren Levy, Health, 26 Sep. 2023 If allergy symptoms are a concern, people can reduce the accumulation of dander or other allergens by frequently washing their sheets, using a HEPA air purifier, and bathing their pet often.—Alyssa Hui, Health, 3 Feb. 2024 That means their asthma gets worse when exposed to an allergen like cat dander, which could lead to an asthma attack.—Rachel Kurzius, Washington Post, 12 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dander.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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