gurus

Noun

guru (plural gurus or guru)

1. In Indian traditions: a spiritual teacher who transmits knowledge to a shishya.
   • When the gooroo arrives at the house of a disciple, the whole family prostrate themselves at his feet, and the spiritual guide puts his right foot on the heads of the prostrate family.1817, William Ward, History, Literature and Religion of the Hindoos, volume II
2. (India) Any general teacher (as a term of respect).
3. (humorous, sometimes) An influential advisor or mentor.
   • Many oenophiles rely on the ratings and recommendations of wine guru Robert Parker when selecting the perfect bottle.2004 October 18, “Vintage technology”, in Time
4. (derogatory) A fraudster or conman relying on a projected air of confidence in an obscure field.
   • OPCA gurus are modern legal alchemists. They promise gold, but their methods are principally intended to impress the gullible, or those who wish to use this drivel to abuse the court system. Any lack of legal success by the OPCA litigant is, of course, portrayed as a consequence of the customer’s...2012, John D. Rooke (Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta), “Meads v. Meads, 2012 ABQB 571”, in CanLII

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