Definition of REGALE

Synonyms for regale

Synonyms: Verb

Synonyms: Noun

Did You Know?

Verb

Regale has been an English verb since at least 1656; it was adapted from French régaler, which has the same meaning as "regale." The French verb goes back to Middle French galer, which means "to have a good time," and to Old French gale, meaning "pleasure." (Gala, meaning "a festive celebration," is from the same source.) "Regale" also has a history as a noun meaning "a sumptuous feast." That use dates back to at least 1670, when someone penned the following notice for posterity: "My Lord Duke will not be able to get away yet…, all the regales that are intended for him not being yet at an end." (The lord referred to is the Duke of Buccleuch, whose regales ended once and for all 15 years later when he was beheaded.)

Examples of regale in a Sentence

Verb

regaled his grandchildren with stories of his time in Morocco an inn that nightly regales its guests with five-course meals prepared by a master chef

Noun

a regale to honor the retiring Supreme Court justice

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

He was known for his lilting brogue and regaling parishioners with stories about his homeland. — al.com, "Bishop Baker releases priest assignments," 1 July 2019 At the same time as seeing this, we are regaled with stories of doctors stealing vials of his blood during routine tests. — SI.com, "Diego Maradona Film Review: A Story of Humanity, Deity, Icarus & Football," 12 June 2019 Expect to be enveloped in a space inspired by early 20th-century French Art Nouveau, regaled with stories of classic cocktails and delighted by pure, distilled flavor. — Destination Canada, Bon Appétit, "8 Not-to-Be-Missed Restaurants in Edmonton," 14 June 2019 At home, grandparents would spin yarns; at school, if a teacher failed to turn up, students were instructed to regale each other with tales. — A.a.k. | Mumbai, The Economist, "Girish Karnad was one of India’s foremost storytellers," 12 June 2019 Bindi was regaling his companions with the quasicrystal story when an acquaintance at the table remembered that an older woman named Koekoek lived on her street in Amsterdam. — Quanta Magazine, "In a Grain, a Glimpse of the Cosmos," 13 June 2014 During a recent town-hall meeting at the Mesa headquarters of Geco, a small defense contractor, Ms. McSally regales some 50 workers with an anecdote of her first encounter with Mr. Trump in the Oval Office. — WSJ, "Arizona Republicans Brace for a Storm," 10 Aug. 2018 After dinner, Longitude 131 resident astronomer will regale guests with tales of the southerly constellations. — Stuart Rigg, Town & Country, "How to Plan a Trip to Australia," 5 Oct. 2016 Two charismatic storytellers frame the show and regale guests with tales about their ancestors’ journeys to the islands. — Arthur Levine, USA TODAY, "Disney’s Hawiian resort Aulani offers a melting pot of dining options," 8 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The notion that the adage less is more might somehow apply to Plein seems, rather, unbelievable, but for his Plein Sport Spring collection, his regale was marginally toned down—and this was a good thing. — Nick Remsen, Vogue, "Philipp Plein Serves Up a Tennis-Themed Sport Collection in Milan," 17 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'regale.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.