Dinners

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A designated meal typically enjoyed in the evening | A social gathering where individuals or families share food during the evening | The main meal of the day, often characterized by a variety of dishes served together
2. A meal served in the evening, often seen as a primary daily dining experience
3. A social event where people gather to enjoy a meal in the evening | An occasion marked by the serving and sharing of food during the late hours of the day | The evening meal, which may vary significantly in formality and ingredients depending on culture and tradition

Etymology: The plural form of "dinner" traces back to the Old French word "disner," which originally referred to the first meal of the day, typically eaten around midday. This itself came from the Late Latin "disjejunare," meaning "to break the fast," combining "dis-" (a reversal prefix) with "jejunare" (to fast). In medieval Europe, when the main meal was taken earlier in the day, "disner" naturally indicated breaking the overnight fast. As dining customs shifted over centuries, the timing of this principal meal moved later into the day in many cultures, especially in England. By the 14th and 15th centuries, "dinner" began to signify the main meal eaten in the evening rather than at midday. This semantic shift reflected changing social habits and work patterns, with the word maintaining its association with a substantial, formal meal. The plural form simply follows standard English rules for countable nouns, marking multiple instances of this principal meal. While "dinners" can refer to several occasions of the main meal or formal events centered around eating, the root of the term remains firmly tied to the notion of breaking the fast and a significant, communal eating experience.

Synonyms: meals, feasts, banquets