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Dear Editorial Team, I am writing to request a review and revision of your entry for the word "pariah." The term is widely used in English to mean an "outcast" or a person or group rejected by society, but this figurative meaning derives from the anglicised name of a Tamil caste/community, paṛaiyar / paṛaiyan, historically linked to parai, "drum." Because the modern figurative sense uses a community name as shorthand for disgrace, exclusion, or social worthlessness, the entry should be treated not merely as historical etymology but as a living issue of harmful usage. Oxford already notes that in the modern sense of "outcast," the word is considered offensive in southern India, while Merriam-Webster notes that the sense is highly inflammatory to many people of Indian descent. I respectfully ask that you consider the following editorial changes: 1. Add a stronger usage label to the figurative sense, such as "offensive," "derogatory," "disparaging," or "offensive to many people of South Indian / Indian descent." Dictionary editorial guidance commonly uses such labels for words or senses likely to offend even when speakers do not intend harm. 2. Expand the usage note to explain that the figurative meaning originates from the anglicised name of a Tamil caste/community and that many readers and speakers regard this use as casteist or offensive. Oxford and Cambridge already provide partial usage warnings of this kind. 3. Reconsider the presentation order and framing of the senses so that the "outcast" meaning is not presented as a neutral everyday term without immediate warning. Existing lexicographic practice allows usage labels and notes to appear directly with sensitive senses. 4. Add clearer alternatives for writers, such as "outcast," "ostracised person," "shunned person," "excluded group," or, in political contexts, "isolated state" or "diplomatically ostracised state." This would help users choose precise language without repeating a term many experience as harmful. 5. Review example sentences to avoid normalizing the figurative sense without context. Examples strongly shape public understanding of acceptability and tone. Dictionary labeling guidance recognizes that usage notes and labels are essential in directing responsible contemporary use. A suggested model for revised wording could be: pariah noun 1. offensive / disparaging to many people of Indian descent: a term historically derived from the name of a Tamil caste/community and used in English to mean an outcast or someone rejected by society. This use is considered offensive by many because it turns a community name into a metaphor for exclusion. Recommended alternatives: outcast, ostracised person, excluded person, shunned person. or Usage note: The figurative use of pariah to mean "outcast" is regarded as offensive by many people because the word derives from the anglicised name of a Tamil caste/community in South India. Consider using alternatives such as outcast, ostracised, excluded, or shunned. This request is not an appeal to erase history. It is a request to describe the history more accurately and to reflect present-day harm more clearly in the entry. Modern dictionaries already revise labels when a term's current social impact warrants stronger guidance, including for senses that may once have appeared ordinary to many speakers. Thank you for considering this request. I would be grateful if this note could be forwarded to the editorial team responsible for usage labels, etymology, and entry revision. Sincerely, [Your Name] [City, Country] [Organization / Campaign, if any] [Email]