elevenses
Americannoun
-
a midmorning break for refreshments.
They paused for tea and muffins at elevenses.
-
the refreshments taken; a midmorning snack.
Elevenses were not ready to be served.
plural noun
Etymology
Origin of elevenses
First recorded in 1840–65; originally dialect; doubly pluralized form of eleven, perhaps as ellipsis of eleven hours (eleven o'clock)
Explanation
Elevenses is a small snack eaten around 11 o'clock in the morning. Some things you could eat or drink at elevenses might include tea, coffee, a piece of cake, a scone, or a light sandwich. It's called elevenses because it's typically eaten around 11 in the morning, as a snack to hold people over until lunch. Think of it as the morning counterpart to afternoon tea. The specific term is an old-fashioned British one, but the custom of eating a snack at midmorning can be found in many countries, especially in Europe. You can refer to it as elevenses even if you don't eat it at eleven, but you could also try coining your own new term: Tenses? Twelveses?
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Meanwhile, the UK’s powerful ability to get on its high horse about elevenses kicked into gear.
From The Guardian ● Jun. 24, 2020
It’s the last thing I throw in the trash, and the last thing I do before we go out for our elevenses is to take out the trash.
From New York Times ● Feb. 19, 2020
"Great food. Smashing staff. Just had a vegetable burrito for elevenses and it was amazing," said one of many positive reviews on social media.
From BBC ● Mar. 27, 2018
Film critics have not been as positive about The Hobbit as fans, but they positively heaped elevenses of derision upon Peter Jackson‘s decision to “experiment” with High Frame Rate in such a high profile feature.
From Forbes ● Jan. 11, 2013
IBs horse and squire were in the courtyard, ready to take him back to Castle Bliant, but the two men were having their elevenses before he started.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
