epergne

American  

[ih-purn, ey-pairn] / ɪˈpɜrn, eɪˈpɛərn /

noun

1. an ornamental piece for the center of a table, for holding fruit, flowers, etc.

---

epergne British  

/ ɪˈpɜːn /

noun

1. an ornamental centrepiece for a table: a stand with holders for sweetmeats, fruit, flowers, etc

---

Etymology

Origin of epergne

1755–65; perhaps < French épargne treasury, saving, noun derivative of épargner to save < Germanic; compare German sparen to save, spare

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

epergne

He is replaced with the same regularity and indifference as fresh snuff is put into a snuff-box, or fresh flowers are set out upon the epergne.

From The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 19, No. 547, May 19, 1832 by Various

No, sir, no more than I dread the epergne.

From Love Me Little, Love Me Long by Reade, Charles

They were arranged on an immense sheet of glass, like the trees in miniature on some table epergne, and their reflection could not be more perfect.

From Eight Hundred Leagues on the Amazon by Verne, Jules

A tall silver epergne surmounted the mound, in the centre of which was a cut-glass basket, holding fruits, and on the sides vases of flowers.

From Perley's Reminiscences, v. 1-2 of Sixty Years in the National Metropolis by Poore, Benjamin Perley

Everybody else was doing exactly what everybody pleased, when Mrs. Applebite’s uncle John emerged from behind an epergne, and vociferously commanded everybody to charge their glasses; a requisition which nobody was bold enough to dispute.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 1, October 23, 1841 by Various