I. ˈfēst noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English feste festival, holiday, feast, from Old French, festival, from Latin festa (neuter plural), from neuter plural of festus solemn, festal; akin to Latin fanum temple, feriae holidays, Armenian dik' gods
1.
a. : an elaborate meal often accompanied by a ceremony or entertainment : banquet
b. : something partaken of or shared in with delight : something highly agreeable and usually sumptuous
the feast of reason — Alexander Pope
a feast for the eyes
2. : a religious festival of rejoicing as opposed to a fast
a. : a holy day set apart annually for solemn commemoration (as of an event in the life of Christ)
the feast of the Nativity
b. : an anniversary marked out in the church calendar for special services or devotions
the feast of Corpus Christi
3. archaic : feasting, festivity
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English festen, from feste, n.
intransitive verb
1. : to have or take part in a feast : dine on rich provisions
2. : to enjoy some unusual pleasure or delight
transitive verb
1. : to present a feast to : entertain lavishly especially by a banquet
we were feasted on filet mignon and strawberry shortcake
2. : delight , gratify
feasting our eyes on the colors and contours of the landscape in autumn
3. : to commemorate annually and with religious ceremonies
• feast·er noun