(dĭnˈər)
nouna. The chief meal of the day, eaten in the evening or at midday.
b. A banquet or formal meal in honor of a person or event.
c. The food prepared for either of these meals.
- A full-course meal served at a fixed price; table d'hôte.
Word History: Eating foods such as pizza and ice cream for breakfast may be justified etymologically. In Middle English
dinner meant “breakfast,” as did the Old French word
disner, or
diner, which was the source of our word. The Old French word came from the Vulgar Latin word
*disiūnāre, meaning “to break one's fast; that is, to eat one's first meal,” a notion also contained in our word
breakfast. The Vulgar Latin word was derived from an earlier word,
*disiēiūnāre, the Latin elements of which are
dis-, denoting reversal, and
iēiūnium, “fast.” Middle English
diner not only meant “breakfast” but, echoing usage of the Old French word
diner, more commonly meant “the first big meal of the day, usually eaten between 9
A.M. and noon.” Customs change, however, and over the years we have let the chief meal become the last meal of the day, by which time we have broken our fast more than once.
