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definitions

supper

[suhp-er]
See more synonyms for supper on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the evening meal, often the principal meal of the day.
  2. any light evening meal, especially one taken late in the evening: an after-the-theater supper.
adjective
  1. of or relating to supper: the supper dishes.
  2. for, during, or including supper: a supper party.

Origin of supper

1225–75; Middle English sup(p)er < Old French souper, noun use of souper to sup1
Related formssup·per·less, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for supper

fare, snack, picnic, dessert, feast, refreshment, dinner, tea, table, special, luncheon, lunch, supper, breakfast, brunch, function, gathering, soiree, buffet, banquet

Examples from the Web for supper

Contemporary Examples of supper

Historical Examples of supper

  • He made his way to the dining-room, where supper was under way.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • We did justice to the supper, as we had not had anything to eat for thirty-two hours.

  • Only, my dear, do not disgrace my report when you come to supper.

    Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)

    Samuel Richardson

  • Does he believe, that the disgrace which I supper on his account, will give him a merit with me?

    Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)

    Samuel Richardson

  • When Banstead took the chorus out to supper he had the ready repartee of his kind.

    Viviette

    William J. Locke

British Dictionary definitions for supper

supper

noun
  1. an evening meal, esp a light one
  2. an evening social event featuring a supper
  3. sing for one's supper to obtain something by performing a service
verb
  1. (tr) rare to give supper to
  2. (intr) rare to eat supper
Derived Formssupperless, adjective

Word Origin for supper

C13: from Old French soper; see sup 1
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 supper
n.

late 13c., "the last meal of the day," from Old French super "supper," noun use of super "to eat the evening meal," which is of Germanic origin (see sup (v.1)).

Formerly, the last of the three meals of the day (breakfast, dinner, and supper); now applied to the last substantial meal of the day when dinner is taken in the middle of the day, or to a late meal following an early evening dinner. Supper is usually a less formal meal than late dinner. [OED]

Applied since c.1300 to the last meal of Christ.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with supper

supper

see sing for one's supper.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.