Meaning of the word dinner

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«Dinner time» redirects here. For other uses, see Dinner Time.

Not to be confused with Diner.

Dinner usually refers to what is in many Western cultures the largest and most formal meal of the day. Historically, the largest meal used to be eaten around midday, and called dinner.^[1] Especially among the elite, it gradually migrated to later in the day over the 16th to 19th centuries.^[2] The word has different meanings depending on culture, and may mean a meal of any size eaten at any time of day.^[3] In particular, it is still sometimes used for a meal at noon or in the early afternoon on special occasions, such as a Christmas dinner.^[2] In hot climates, the main meal is more likely to be eaten in the evening, after the temperature has fallen.

Etymology[edit]

The word is from the Old French (c. 1300) disner, meaning «dine», from the stem of Gallo-Romance desjunare («to break one’s fast»), from Latin dis- (which indicates the opposite of an action) + Late Latin ieiunare («to fast»), from Latin ieiunus («fasting, hungry»).^[4][5] The Romanian word dejun and the French déjeuner retain this etymology and to some extent the meaning (whereas the Spanish word desayuno and Portuguese desjejum are related but are exclusively used for breakfast). Eventually, the term shifted to referring to the heavy main meal of the day, even if it had been preceded by a breakfast meal (or even both breakfast and lunch).

Time of day[edit]

Ancient[edit]

Reflecting the typical custom of the 17th century, Louis XIV dined at noon, and had supper at 10:00 pm.^[6] But in Europe, dinner began to move later in the day during the 1700s, due to developments in work practices, lighting, financial status, and cultural changes.^[2] The fashionable hour for dinner continued to be incrementally postponed during the 18th century, to two and three in the afternoon, and, in 1765, King George III dined at 4:00 pm, though his infant sons had theirs with their governess at 2:00 pm, leaving time to visit the queen as she dressed for dinner with the king.^[7] But in France Marie Antoinette, when still Dauphine of France in 1770, wrote that when at the Château de Choisy the court still dined at 2:00 pm, with a supper after the theatre at around 10:00 pm, before bed at 1:00 or 1:30 am.^[8]

At the time of the First French Empire an English traveler to Paris remarked upon the «abominable habit of dining as late as seven in the evening».^[9] By about 1850 English middle-class dinners were around 5:00 or 6:00 pm, allowing men to arrive back from work, but there was a continuing pressure for the hour to drift later, led by the elite who did not have to work set hours, and as commutes got longer as cities expanded. In the mid-19th century the issue was something of a social minefield, with a generational element. John Ruskin, once he married in 1848, dined at 6:00 pm, which his parents thought «unhealthy». Mrs Gaskell dined between 4:00 and 5:00 pm. The fictional Mr Pooter, a lower middle-class Londoner in 1888-89 and a diner at 5:00 pm, was invited by his son to dine at 8:00 pm, but «[he] said we did not pretend to be fashionable people, and would like the dinner earlier».^[10]

The satirical novel Living for Appearances (1855) by Henry Mayhew and his brother Augustus begins with the views of the hero on the matter. He dines at 7:00 pm, and often complains of «the disgusting and tradesman-like custom of early dining», say at 2:00 pm. The «Royal hour» he regards as 8:00 pm, but he does not aspire to that. He tells people «Tell me when you dine, and I will tell you what you are».^[11]

Modern[edit]

In many modern usages, the term dinner refers to the evening meal, which is now typically the largest meal of the day in most Western cultures. When this meaning is used, the preceding meals are usually referred to as breakfast, lunch and perhaps a tea.^[2][12] Supper is now often an alternative term for dinner; originally this was always a later secondary evening meal, after an early dinner.

The divide between different meanings of «dinner» is not cut-and-dried based on either geography or socioeconomic class. The term for the midday meal is most commonly used by working-class people, especially in the English Midlands, North of England and the central belt of Scotland.^[12] Even in systems in which dinner is the meal usually eaten at the end of the day, an individual dinner may still refer to a main or more sophisticated meal at any time in the day, such as a banquet, feast, or a special meal eaten on a Sunday or holiday, such as Christmas dinner or Thanksgiving dinner. At such a dinner, the people who dine together may be formally dressed and consume food with an array of utensils. These dinners are often divided into three or more courses. Appetizers consisting of options such as soup or salad, precede the main course, which is followed by the dessert.

A survey by Jacob’s Creek, an Australian winemaker, found the average evening meal time in the U.K. to be 7:47pm.^[13]

Parties[edit]

A dinner party is a social gathering at which people congregate to eat dinner.^[12] Dinners exist on a spectrum, from a basic meal, to a state dinner.^[14]

Ancient Roman[edit]

During the times of Ancient Rome, a dinner party was referred to as a convivium, and was a significant event for Roman emperors and senators to congregate and discuss their relations.^[15]

English[edit]

In London (c. 1875–c. 1900), dinner parties were formal occasions that included printed invitations and formal RSVPs.^[16] The food served at these parties ranged from large, extravagant food displays and several meal courses to more simple fare and food service.^[16] Activities sometimes included singing and poetry reciting, among others.^[16]

Formal[edit]

A formal dinner has several requirements. First, it requires the participants to wear an evening attire such as a tuxedo, with either a black or white tie; second, all food is served from the kitchen; third, «neither serving dishes nor utensils are placed on the table. All service and table clearing is performed by butlers and other service staff;» fourth, multiple courses are served; and finally there is an order of service and seating protocols.^[14]

See also[edit]

• Early bird dinner
• Formal hall
• Snack
• Supper
• Tea

References[edit]

Bibliography[edit]

Further reading[edit]

Gallery[edit]

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  Casual dinner in western restaurant

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  A formal American dinner setting

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  An airline dinner meal

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  Japanese dinner

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External links[edit]

• «Dinner» definition Archived 2008-12-22 at the Wayback Machine from Cambridge.org
• Wikibooks Cookbook
• BBC article on history of dinner

Last Updated:
7 Apr 2023
— Updated example sentences

At length the clock in the steeple of the «Old South» pronounced that the dinner hour had arrived — and despite the intense cold, the street soon became alive with people hurrying to and fro; for what weather can induce a hungry man to neglect that important era in the events of the day — his _dinner_? ❋ George Thompson (N/A)

‘We had,’ she records, in May 1779, ‘a very grand dinner to-day, _though nothing to a Streatham dinner_, at the Ship Tavern [Brighton], where the officers mess, to which we were invited by the major and the captain. ‘ ❋ James Boswell (1767)

In our house the term dinner was reserved for special occasions and holidays. ❋ Suzanne Beecher (2010)

In Spain dinner is eaten late, ten, eleven p.m. late, so tapas are the solution. ❋ Unknown (2007)

What brings hundreds to the dinner is the appearance of alumni members who sign autographs and interact with guests. ❋ Unknown (2008)

Although the dinner is a traditional showcase for presidential humor, there was scathing backlash from Democrats, anti-war liberals and relatives of servicemembers. ❋ Unknown (2007)

When mamma and I sit down to what we call dinner, I always feel that there is ❋ Unknown (2004)

Now he came in to what he called dinner, and Kate sat down with him. ❋ Unknown (1993)

This dinner is a particularly happy occasion for me, as it brings me an opportunity of meeting, once again, the present and former officers of my regiment, with their wives. ❋ Unknown (1974)

The poorest must have beef or mutton on the table, and what they call a dinner with their friends. ❋ William Francis Dawson (N/A)

It’s Sunday, and we can’t send for vinegar and all that in the town; and you Indian gentlemen can’t enjoy what you call a dinner without a lot of hot things. ❋ Unknown (1905)

All this was at what they called dinner-time, when the vans generally halted for an hour or so and hitherto — even when they were travelling too quickly for the children to have walked beside for a change, as they had sometimes done when going slowly — Mick or Diana had always let them out at this hour for a breath of fresh air. ❋ Mrs. Molesworth (1880)

What she termed her dinner was a very uncertain affair. ❋ Edward Payson Roe (1863)

When mamma and I sit down to what we call dinner, I always feel that there is a grace hovering in the air different to that which she says. ‘ ❋ Anthony Trollope (1848)

Before leaving the river, we sat down and took the meal which we called our dinner; and having drunk as much water as we required, we filled up the skin Ned had provided, as we could not tell when we might again meet with water. ❋ William Henry Giles Kingston (1847)

King: «I wonder what’s for dinner.»
Link: «[Oh boy]! I’m so hungry, [I could eat] an [Octarok]!» ❋ Raymoo (2007)

She: «[Everytime] he takes me to a nice restaurant [for dinner] I [fuck him] afterwards.»
He: «What’s for dinner ?» ❋ Jake (2004)

oh [srry] [shelby] [i gotta go] to dinner. talk to you later ❋ Pieshop Skeezy (2009)

Noun: [I like] to [eat dinner].
Verb: I want to dinner [your mom].
Adjective: Guy 1- Dude! Look what I just did.
Guy 2- Dude!!! That’s totally dinner! ❋ Jkpoo (2010)

[your girl] [made] me dinner [last night] ❋ The Cliford (2006)

i was into him like dinner.
damn [boy], those new [kicks] are dinner. where [you get that] shit at? ❋ Mirks (2009)

1.
Yeah, Yeah, Baby, HAVE YOUR DINNER!!!
2.
Guy1: So, you gave [her her] dinner yet?
Guy2: [You bet], she ate it all up nice and came back for [second helpings]. ❋ Da Zeg (2005)

[yo] [tommy]! [suck my] dinner!!! ❋ Dinner Man (2010)

ex.. You gonna be my dinner tonight!
You’re all the dinner I need!
Girl, [imma] [go in] this [club] and find me some dinner tonight! ❋ Closetkidd (2006)

[Whoa], dinner is [hott] [tonight]! ❋ LK (2004)

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English dyner, from Old French disner (“lunch”, but originally “breakfast”), (modern French dîner), from Vulgar Latin *disiūnō, *disiūnāre from Latin dis- + iēiūnō (“to break the fast”).
Doublet of diner.

Pronunciation[edit]

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈdɪnə/
• (US) enPR: dĭnʹər, IPA^(key): /ˈdɪnəɹ/, [ˈdɪnɚ]
• Rhymes: -ɪnə(ɹ)
• Hyphenation: din‧ner

Noun[edit]

dinner (countable and uncountable, plural dinners)

1. A midday meal (in a context in which the evening meal is called supper or tea).

   • 1892, Walter Besant, “In the Office”, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC, page 45:

     At twilight in the summer […] the mice come out. They […] eat the luncheon crumbs. Mr. Checkley, for instance, always brought his dinner in a paper parcel in his coat-tail pocket, and ate it when so disposed, sprinkling crumbs lavishly […] on the floor.

   • 1919, Elisabeth P. Stork (translator), Heidi, Johanna Spyri[1]:

     It was already late for school, so the boy took his time and only arrived in the village when Heidi came home for dinner. […] «Come to the table now and eat with us. Then you can go up with Heidi, and when you bring her back at night, you can get your supper here.»

2. The main meal of the day, often eaten in the evening.
   • 2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)

     I want to cook dinner.

3. An evening meal.

   I had some friends to dinner two nights ago.

4. A meal given to an animal.

   Give the dog its dinner.

5. A formal meal for many people eaten for a special occasion.
   • 1927, F. E. Penny, chapter 4, in Pulling the Strings:

     Soon after the arrival of Mrs. Campbell, dinner was announced by Abboye. He came into the drawing room resplendent in his gold-and-white turban. […] His cummerbund matched the turban in gold lines.

6. (uncountable) The food provided or consumed at any such meal.

Usage notes[edit]

• There are differences in usage according to the social class of the speaker. Working-class and lower-middle-class speakers in Britain, for example, are more likely to refer to the midday meal as «dinner» and the evening meal as «tea» rather than «supper». Some speakers use common collocations of dinner such as school dinner, Sunday dinner and Christmas dinner to describe meals that they wouldn’t otherwise call a dinner.

Synonyms[edit]

• (an evening meal): supper, tea
• (meal given to an animal): chow
• (midday meal): lunch, luncheon
• (formal meal for many people eaten at a special occasion): banquet, feast, luncheon

Derived terms[edit]

[edit]

• (combinatorial form): deipno-
• (fear of): deipnophobia
• (verb): dine

Descendants[edit]

Translations[edit]

Verb[edit]

dinner (third-person singular simple present dinners, present participle dinnering, simple past and past participle dinnered)

1. (intransitive) To eat a dinner; to dine.
   • 2014, Caroline Akervik, White Pine, White Bear Lake, MN: Melange Books, Chapter 6, p. 57,^[2]

     Once I was geared up, I joined him on the wide, flat seat of the sled which was loaded up with hot food for the jacks who were dinnering out since they worked a forty far from the camp.

2. (transitive) To provide (someone) with a dinner; to dine.
   • 1887, Caroline Emily Cameron, A Devout Lover, London: F.V. White & Co., Volume 1, Chapter 11, p. 181,^[3]

     She had taken her about to concerts and exhibitions—she had dinnered her at the Colonies, and suppered her at the New Club.

   • 2004, Colm Tóibín, The Master, New York: Scribner, Chapter Two, p. 26,^[4]

     ‘The Irish were awful anyway,’ Lady Wolseley said, ‘and their not attending the season should be greeted with relief. The dreary matrons dragging their dreary daughters about the place and dinnering up every possible partner for them. The truth is that no one wants to marry their daughters, no one at all.’

Synonyms[edit]

• (eat a dinner): dine (formal)

Translations[edit]

Anagrams[edit]

• endrin, in dern

Chinese[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

• 癲拿／癫拿 (din1 naa4, “dinner”)

Etymology[edit]

From English dinner.

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

dinner

1. (Hong Kong Cantonese) dinner (evening meal; formal meal at special occasion) (Classifier: 個／个 c; 餐 c)

[edit]

• lunch

Britannica Dictionary definition of DINNER