dinner
/ˈdɪnər/
noun
Origin
Vulgar Latin
disjejunare — to break one's fast
Overview
Meaning Now
- The principal meal of the day, eaten either at midday or in the evening.
- A formal evening party or social gathering at which a meal is served.
Literal older meaning
the act of breaking one's fast
Language path
Vulgar Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
diner
Earliest period
13th century
Journey
Originally, 'dinner' referred to the first heavy meal of the day, usually taken in the morning. Over centuries, as work schedules and lifestyles shifted, the term migrated to describe the main meal of the day, which gradually moved from midday to late afternoon or evening.
Evolution
- Vulgar Latin
disjejunare
“to break one's fast”
From prefix 'dis-' (reversal) + 'jejunus' (fasting).
- Old French
disner
“to eat the first meal of the day”
- Middle English
diner
“a feast or main meal”
Introduced to Middle English after the Norman Conquest.
Connections
Word parts
din-
root
fasting
-ner
suffix
verbalizing suffix
Related across languages
French
dîner
to eat dinner
Spanish
desayunar
to eat breakfast (related etymologically via 'jejunus')
Related words
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.