Banquet

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈbæŋkwɪt/

Origin

Middle English banket (""), from Middle French banquet (""), from Italian banchetto ("light repast between meals, snack eaten on a small bench", literally a small bench), from banco ("bench"), from Lombardic *bank, *panch ("bench"), from Proto-Germanic *bankiz ("bench"). Akin to Old High German bank, banch ("bench"), Old English benc ("bench"). More at bank, bench.

Full definition of banquet

Noun

1. A large celebratory meal; a feast.
2. (archaic) A dessert; a course of sweetmeats.
• MassingerWe'll dine in the great room, but let the music
  And banquet be prepared here.

Verb

1. To participate in a banquet; to feast.
• MiltonWere it a draught for Juno when she banquets, I would not taste thy treasonous offer.
2. (obsolete) To have dessert after a feast.
• CavendishWhere they did both sup and banquet.
3. To treat with a banquet or sumptuous entertainment of food; to feast.
• ColeridgeJust in time to banquet
  The illustrious company assembled there.----