I. cater noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English catour, short for acatour, from Anglo-French, from acater to buy — more at cate
obsolete : a buyer of provisions often for a large household
II. ca·ter ˈkād.ə(r), -ātə- verb
( catered ; catered ; catering -əriŋ also ˈkā.triŋ ; caters )
intransitive verb
1. : to provide a supply of usually prepared food : act as caterer
cater for a large banquet
cater to local parties and entertainments
2.
a. : to supply what is required or desired
carry a good supply of charts so as to cater for such emergencies — Peter Heaton
too many movies, novels, and comic books cater to an appetite for violence — J.P.Sisk
b. : to act with special consideration
cater to a very sick boy
transitive verb
: to provide prepared food and service for
the full-course dinner will be catered by a local firm
III. ca·ter ˈkād.ə(r), -id.-, -ad.- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: obsolete cater, n., four-spot of cards or dice, from Middle English, from Middle French quatre four, from Latin quattuor — more at four
transitive verb
dialect : to place, move, or cut across diagonally
intransitive verb
dialect : to move or cut diagonally