viand
Americannoun
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an article of food.
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viands, articles or dishes of food, now usually of a choice or delicate kind.
noun
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a type of food, esp a delicacy
-
(plural) provisions
Etymology
Origin of viand
1350–1400; Middle English viaunde < Middle French viande < Vulgar Latin *vīvanda, for Latin vīvenda things to be lived on, neuter plural gerund of vīvere to live
Explanation
A viand is something really delicious. The grilled cheese sandwich at the diner near your house that’s better than any other grilled cheese sandwich in a 400 mile radius? That’s a viand. Viand comes from the Old French word viande, meaning “food.” A viand is something so good you’ll think about it for weeks after you eat it. Your grandmother’s Thanksgiving turkey might be a viand, or maybe the hot chocolate you drink after sledding is a viand. No matter what you consider delicious, you’re lucky if you’re eating a viand.
Vocabulary lists containing viand
Frankenstein
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The Tempest
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"The Pit and the Pendulum," Vocabulary from the short story
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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.
There were dozens of different fire-places for the different dishes, and each kind of meat and vegetables; each viand had its special dish and pan, fire on the side and behind.
From Villa Eden: The Country-House on the Rhine by Berthold Auerbach
“Huh!” said Una, who was unable to see any adventurous qualities in a viand which she consumed about twice a week.
From The Job An American Novel by Sinclair Lewis
And Mrs. Baxter pressed one viand after another upon her guest, before she could turn her attention to the teapot, which was at present enveloped in a huge braided cosy.
From Lover or Friend by Rosa Nouchette Carey
When she looked upon the viand before her she gave a little cry of dismay.
From A Dixie School Girl by Gabrielle E. (Gabrielle Emilie) Jackson
The modern tendency is to confine -nce to action, and to express quality or state by -ncy; cf. compliance, pliancy, annoyance, buoyancy. -and, -end, noun suffix, as viand, legend.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various
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.
