deipnosophist

noun

deip·​nos·​o·​phist
dīpˈnäsəfə̇st
plural -s
: a person skilled in table talk

Word History

Etymology

from the Deipnosophists, a work depicting a banquet where long discussions take place, written by Athenaeus fl a.d. 200 Graeco-Egyptian writer, from Greek Deipnosophistai, literally, culinary experts, plural of deipnosophistēs, from deipnon meal (probably of non-Indo-European origin) + sophistēs wise man, sophist

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Cite this Entry

“Deipnosophist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deipnosophist. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

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