deipnosophist

[dahyp-nos-uh-fist]

noun

a person who is an adept conversationalist at table.

Origin of deipnosophist

1650–60; after a literary work by Athenaeus, Deipnosophistḗs, an expert in affairs of the kitchen, equivalent to Greek deîpno(n) meal + sophistḗs sophist

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for deipnosophist

Historical Examples of deipnosophist

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

British Dictionary definitions for deipnosophist

deipnosophist

noun

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

Word Origin for deipnosophist

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

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

Word Origin and History for deipnosophist

"gourmand," 1650s, from Greek deipnosophistes "one learned in the mysteries of the kitchen," from deipnon "chief meal, dinner" (of unknown origin) + sophistes "master of a craft" (see sophist). the word has come down thanks to "Deipnosophistai," 3c. work on gastronomy by Athenaeus.