repast

American  

[ri-past, -pahst, ree-past, -pahst, ri-past, -pahst] / rɪˈpæst, -ˈpɑst, ˈri pæst, -pɑst, rɪˈpæst, -ˈpɑst /

noun

1. a quantity of food taken or provided for one occasion of eating.

   to eat a light repast.

2. a meal.

   the evening repast.

3. the time during which a meal is eaten; mealtime.

4. Archaic. the taking of food, as at a meal.

5. Obsolete. food.

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verb (used without object)

repasts, present (3rd person singular) repasted, past participle, past repasting present participle

1. to eat or feast (often followed by on orupon ).

repast British  

/ rɪˈpɑːst /

noun

1. a meal or the food provided at a meal

   a light repast

2. archaic

   1. food in general; nourishment

   2. the act of taking food or refreshment

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verb

1. archaic (intr) to feed (on)

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

• repasting
  present
• repasted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• repast
  simple
• repasts
  simple
• have repasted
  perfect
• has repasted
  perfect
• am repasting
  progressive
• are repasting
  progressive
• is repasting
  progressive
• have been repasting
  perfect progressive
• has been repasting
  perfect progressive

Past

• repasted
  simple
• had repasted
  perfect
• was repasting
  progressive
• were repasting
  progressive
• had been repasting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will repast
  simple
• will have repasted
  perfect
• will be repasting
  progressive
• will have been repasting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of repast

1300–50; Middle English (noun) < Old French, derivative (compare past < Latin pāstus fodder) of repaistre to eat a meal < Late Latin repāscere to feed regularly, equivalent to Latin re- re- + pāscere to feed ( cf. pasture)

Explanation

Whether it's a sumptuous feast you're sitting down to or just a simple bite to eat, repast is just another word for "meal." Based on the Latin word repascere, which means "to feed," a repast is any collection of food served and eaten at one time. In verb form, repast means to eat or feast. So at least by dictionary standards, you should feel free to repast on cheese doodles and marshmallow fluff for your morning repast — in other words, eat junk for breakfast.

Example Sentences

A prosecutor’s memo describes Caddle as “cold-hearted” and says he even attended the repast after Galdieri’s funeral.

From Washington Times • Jun. 29, 2023

The prosecutor’s memo describes Caddle as “cold-hearted” and says he even attended the repast after Galdieri’s funeral.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 28, 2023

With a few final prayers, they head to the St. Regis New York for the after party . . . er, repast.

From Salon • May 22, 2023

Scene: Uncle Clifford goes to the after-funeral repast to pick up some chitlins for her grandmother.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 29, 2022

We were halfway through this simple, disappointing repast when the waitress dropped the bill on the table as she passed.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson