deipnosophist

[ dahyp-nos-uh-fist ]

noun

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

deipnosophist

/ daɪpˈnɒsəfɪst /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of deipnosophist¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of deipnosophist¹

C17: from Greek deipnosophistai, title of a Greek work by Athenaeus (3rd century), describing learned discussions at a banquet, from deipnon meal + sophistai wise men; see sophist

Example Sentences

I'll apologize, Wilks, for the deipnosophist part of it, but I'll be jiggered if I'll be responsible for your nasty gastronomy.

From Project Gutenberg