repast

[ noun ri-past, -pahst, ree-past, -pahst; verb ri-past, -pahst ]
See synonyms for repast on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a quantity of food taken or provided for one occasion of eating: to eat a light repast.

  2. a meal: the evening repast.

  1. the time during which a meal is eaten; mealtime.

  2. Archaic. the taking of food, as at a meal.

  3. Obsolete. food.

verb (used without object)
  1. to eat or feast (often followed by on or upon).

Origin of repast

1
1300–50; Middle English (noun) <Old French, derivative (compare past<Latin pāstus fodder) of repaistre to eat a meal <Late Latin repāscere to feed regularly, equivalent to Latin re-re- + pāscere to feed (cf. pasture)

Words Nearby repast

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use repast in a sentence

  • They had a repast together, and Aguinaldo called for cheers for Spain, in which all heartily joined.

    The Philippine Islands | John Foreman
  • The cook, placed upon her mettle, served a delicious repast—a luscious tenderloin broiled a point.

  • On the table some kind of cold repast was laid, the viands concealed under china covers.

    Dope | Sax Rohmer
  • The startled guests filed hastily across to find a dainty but sumptuous repast served at little tables.

    Ancestors | Gertrude Atherton
  • I visited one day, in Aberdeen, a restaurant where a copious repast was being served for the modest sum of two pence a head.

    Friend Mac Donald | Max O'Rell

British Dictionary definitions for repast

repast

/ (rɪˈpɑːst) /


noun
  1. a meal or the food provided at a meal: a light repast

  2. archaic

    • food in general; nourishment

    • the act of taking food or refreshment

verb
  1. (intr) archaic to feed (on)

Origin of repast

1
C14: from Old French, from repaistre to feed, from Late Latin repāscere to nourish again, from Latin re- + pāscere to feed, pasture (of animals)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012