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n. 1. a. A large, elaborately prepared meal, usually for many persons and often accompanied by entertainment; a banquet. b. A meal that is well prepared and abundantly enjoyed. 2. A periodic religious festival commemorating an event or honoring a god or saint. 3. Something giving great pleasure or satisfaction: a book that is a veritable feast for the mind. v. feast·ed, feast·ing, feasts v.tr. To give a feast for; entertain or feed sumptuously: feasted the guests on venison. v.intr. Idiom: 1. To partake of a feast; eat heartily. 2. To experience something with gratification or delight: feasted on the view. feast (one's) eyes on To be delighted or gratified by the sight of: We feasted our eyes on the paintings. [Middle English feste, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *fēsta, from Latin, pl. of fēstum, from fēstus, festive; see dhēs- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] feaster n. |
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