Convives

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A term for individuals who share a meal or feast together; it can also denote companions or associates engaged in social dining; additionally, it reflects a camaraderie developed through shared culinary experiences
2. Referring to people who partake in a communal meal; it signifies those who enjoy each other's company while dining; it can also imply friendships fostered during shared nourishment
3. Describing guests or participants at a dinner or banquet; it highlights relationships formed through collective dining events; it may also refer to the bonds created through the act of eating together

Etymology: "Convives" is the plural of "convive," a noun for someone who eats at the same table as others, a dining companion. The singular came into English by way of French, where "convive" carries the same sense of a fellow guest. Its root is the Latin "convivere," meaning to live together, which combines "con-" (with, together) and "vivere" (to live). The idea behind the word is therefore not food itself but shared life lived around a table. That Latin verb is the same one that lies behind "convivial," so the two English words are close relatives, with "convive" naming the person and "convivial" describing the mood of a gathering.

Synonyms: companions, comrades, friends, associates, partners