deipnosophist

American  

[dahyp-nos-uh-fist] / daɪpˈnɒs ə fɪst /

noun

1. a person who is an adept conversationalist at table.

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deipnosophist British  

/ daɪpˈnɒsəfɪst /

noun

1. rare a person who is a master of dinner-table conversation

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Etymology

Origin of deipnosophist

First recorded in 1650–60; after a literary work by Athenaeus, Deipnosophistaí “Dinner Experts, Sophists,” equivalent to Greek deîpno(n) “meal” + sophistaí, plural of sophistḗs sophist

Example Sentences

"The very uncommon word deipnosophist, hardly an English word at all, when employed at the present day, always means a supper philosopher, one who talks learnedly at supper, either about cookery or about other things."

From Project Gutenberg

Then, turning to the coloured gentleman, he remarked in an incidental sort of way: "Were you ever in the company of deipnosophists before, Mr. Magoffin, deipnosophists mind! enjoyin' a gastromical repast?"

From Project Gutenberg