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)

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)

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 ( pasture )

Example Sentences

Not long afterward, another male red fox entered the scene of the crime; the purloined repast had been his.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 4, 2023

Only then is a repast of red meat served.

From Washington Post • Apr. 19, 2023

Brunch was known as "the latest 'fad'" and "a repast at 11 o'clock a.m."

From Salon • Mar. 24, 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

Then your grandmother invited us in for the repast but Miss Trotter said she wasn’t up to it and we went home.”

From "Gone Crazy in Alabama" by Rita Williams-Garcia