victual

[ vit-l ]

noun

1. victuals, food supplies; provisions.
2. food or provisions for human beings.

verb (used with object)

, vict·ualed, vict·ual·ing or (especially British) vict·ualled, vict·ual·ling.

1. to supply with victuals.

verb (used without object)

, vict·ualed, vict·ual·ing or (especially British) vict·ualled, vict·ual·ling.

1. to take or obtain victuals.
2. Archaic. to eat or feed.

victual

/ ˈvɪtəl /

verb

1. to supply with or obtain victuals
2. rare.
   intr (esp of animals) to partake of victuals

Derived Forms

• ˈvictual-less, adjective

Other Words From

• victual·less adjective
• re·victual verb revictualed revictualing or (especially British) revictualled revictualling
• un·victualed un·victualled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of victual¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English vitaille, from Anglo-French, Middle French vitail(l)e, Old French vituaille, from Late Latin victuālia “provisions,” noun use of neuter plural of Latin victuālis “pertaining to food,” equivalent to victu(s) “nourishment, way of living” ( vic-, variant stem of vīvere “to live” + -tus suffix of verb action) + -ālis -al ¹; modern spelling from Latin

Word History and Origins

Origin of victual¹

C14: from Old French vitaille, from Late Latin victuālia provisions, from Latin victuālis concerning food, from victus sustenance, from vīvere to live

Example Sentences

Yes, I will victual the camp for her, but it shall be by some stratagem.

From Project Gutenberg

From one they took his best horses, from another they took linen, clothes, and other furnitures and victual.

From Project Gutenberg

As he spake came in the damsels with the victual and the cheer was exceeding good, and Hallblithe grew light-hearted.

From Project Gutenberg

Now the ships, on setting out, went first to victual at the Madeiras, because of the great supplies that were there.

From Project Gutenberg

Now go and see to the arms and all things needful, and send the steward to me, for we have to victual the ship.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bread
• cooking
• cuisine
• drink
• fare
• feed
• foodstuff
• meal
• meat
• snack