feast

 
Pronunciation: /fiːst/

noun

  • 1a large meal, typically a celebratory one: a wedding feast
  • a plentiful supply of something enjoyable: the concert season offers a feast of classical music
  • 2an annual religious celebration: [as modifier]: a feast day
  • a day dedicated to a particular saint: the feast of St John
  • British an annual village festival: the feast was the highlight of the village year

verb

[no object]
  • eat and drink sumptuously: the men would congregate and feast after hunting
  • (feast on) eat large quantities of: we sat feasting on barbecued chicken and beer
  • [with object] give (someone) a plentiful and delicious meal: they feasted the deputation

Phrases

ghost (or skeleton) at the feast

a person or thing that brings gloom to an otherwise pleasant occasion.

feast one's eyes on

gaze at with pleasure.

feast or famine

either too much of something or too little: your cash flow has been feast or famine recently

Derivatives

feaster

noun

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French feste (noun), fester (verb), from Latin festa, neuter plural of festus 'joyous'. Compare with fete and fiesta