di·et 1  (d īĭt)
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n.1. The usual food and drink of a person or animal. 2. A regulated selection of foods, as for medical reasons or cosmetic weight loss. 3. Something used, enjoyed, or provided regularly: subsisted on a diet of detective novels during his vacation. adj.1. Of or relating to a food regimen designed to promote weight loss in a person or an animal: the diet industry. 2. a. Having fewer calories. b. Sweetened with a noncaloric sugar substitute. 3. Designed to reduce or suppress the appetite: diet pills; diet drugs. v. di·et·ed, di·et·ing, di·ets v.intr. To eat and drink according to a regulated system, especially so as to lose weight or control a medical condition. v.tr. To regulate or prescribe food and drink for.
[Middle English diete, from Old French, from Latin diaeta, way of living, diet, from Greek diaita, back-formation from diaitāsthai, to live one's life, middle voice of diaitān, to treat.]
diet·er n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2018 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
di·et 2  (d īĭt)
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n.1. A national or local legislative assembly in certain countries, such as Japan. 2. A formal general assembly of the princes or estates of the Holy Roman Empire.
[Middle English diete, day's journey, day for meeting, assembly, from Medieval Latin diēta, alteration (influenced by Latin diēs, day) of Latin diaeta, daily routine; see DIET1.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2018 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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