viand

noun

vi·and ˈvī-ənd

Synonyms of viand next

: an item of food

especially : a choice or tasty dish

viands plural : provisions, food

Did you know?

Are you someone who eats to live, or someone who lives to eat? Either way, you'll find that the etymology of viand reflects the close link between food and life. Viand was borrowed into English in the 15th century from the Anglo-French viaunde or viande (viande, meaning "meat," is still found in modern French usage). The Anglo-French viaunde derives ultimately from the Medieval Latin vivanda ("food"), an alteration of vivendus, a participial form of the verb vivere, meaning "to live." Vivere is the ancestor of a number of other lively and life-giving words in English, including victual, revive, survive, convivial, and vivacious.

Examples of viand in a Sentence

a shop selling caviar, foie gras, designer chocolates, and other pricey viands the inn serves its choice viands on delicate china and its selection of vintage wines in the finest crystal available

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, viaunde, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin vivanda food, alteration of Latin vivenda, neuter plural of vivendus, gerundive of vivere to live — more at quick entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of viand was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century