Convive

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /kənˈvaɪv/

Definitions

1. To participate in joyful gatherings that emphasize sharing meals and camaraderie among people
2. To take part in a social event centered around eating and enjoying company
3. To join others in a communal meal where food and conversation are shared

Etymology: "Convive" comes to English from French, where "convive" meant a fellow guest at a meal. The French word descends from Latin "convivere," meaning "to live together," built from "con-" ("together") and "vivere" ("to live"). The Latin idea of living together was closely tied to sharing a table, which is why a word about existence came to name the people who eat side by side. English borrowed the term for those dining companions, and it survives mainly as a verb meaning to dine together socially. The verb sense follows naturally from the noun: to convive is to take part in the convivial gathering itself. The word is uncommon today, and it is most often met in formal or literary writing, where its older sense of shared feasting still shows through.

Synonyms: associate, companion, comrade