repast

plural repasts

1. archaiccountableliteraryuncountableA meal.

   The Winter comes, and then the falling Maſt, / For greedy Swine, provides a full repaſt.

   1697, Virgil, “The Second Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 93, lines 755–756

   5 more examples

   After evening repaſt, till bed time their thoughts will be beſt taken up in the eaſie grounds of Religion, and the ſtory of Scripture.

   [1644], [John Milton], Of Education. To Master Samuel Hartlib, [London]: […] [Thomas Underhill and/or Thomas Johnson], →OCLC, page 4

   Forthwith from dance to ſweet repaſt they turn / Deſirous, all in Circles as they ſtood, / Tables are ſet, and on a ſudden pil'd / With Angels Food, and rubied Nectar flows: […]

   1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 630–633

   We pitch'd our little Camp here, and ſet down to our Repaſt; for I found, that tho' we were to go back to lodge, yet my Patron had taken care we ſhould be furniſhed ſufficiently for Dinner, and have a good Houſe to eat it in; that is to ſay, a Tent, as before.

   1725, [Daniel Defoe], “Part II”, in A New Voyage Round the World, by a Course Never Sailed before. […], London: […] A[rthur] Bettesworth, […]; and W. Mears, […], →OCLC, page 118

   Earth's coarsest bread, the garden's homeliest roots, / And scarce the summer luxury of fruits, / His short repast in humbleness supply / With all a hermit's board would scarce deny.

   1814, Lord Byron, “Canto I”, in The Corsair, a Tale, London: […] Thomas Davison, […], for John Murray, […], →OCLC, stanza II, page 4, lines 71–74

   When at last they were thoroughly toasted, the Badger summoned them to the table, where he had been busy laying a repast.

   1908 October, Kenneth Grahame, “Mr. Badger”, in The Wind in the Willows, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, →OCLC, page 73

   Synonyms: refection, meal, mese, refection

2. countableobsoleteuncountableA period of refreshment or rest.

   1 more example

   [T]he nobleſt Raptures have been conceiv'd in the Walks and ſhades of Trees, […] the Profound Philoſophers lov'd here to paſſe their lives in repoſe and Contemplation, and the frugal Repaſts—molleſque ſub arbore ſomni [a soft sleep under the tree] were the natural and chaſt delights of our Fore-Fathers.

   1670, John Evelyn, “. Chapter XXXV. An Historical Account of the Sacrednesse, and Use of Standing Groves, &c..”, in Sylva, or A Discourse of Forest-trees and the Propagation of Timber in His Majesties Dominions. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Jo[hn] Martyn, and Ja[mes] Allestry, printers to the Royal Society, →OCLC, page 235

3. archaiccountableuncountableFood or drink that may be consumed as a meal.

   [T]hey return, and howle and gnaw / My Bowels, their repaſt; […]

   1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 799–800

   5 more examples

   I prethee go, and get me ſome repaſt, / I care not what, ſo it be holſome foode.

   c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii], page 223, column 2

   In honour therefore of the Sunne, and for ſuſtenance of his Chariot-beaſts, they carefully waſh the carkaſſes of their dead, and lay them forth in the night, for repaſt vnto the Tigres, wearied with their long and late iourney in the day.

   1626, [Samuel] Purchas, “Of Cumana and Paria”, in Purchas His Pilgrimes. […], 5th part, London: […] William Stansby for Henrie Fetherstone, […], →OCLC, 9th book, § III (Of Trinidado and Paria), page 899

   Go therefore, half this day as friend with friend / Converſe with Adam, in what Bowre or ſhade / Thou find'ſt him from the heat of Noon retir'd, / To reſpit his day-labour with repaſt, / Or with repoſe; […]

   1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 229–233

   Sleep that is thy beſt repaſt, / Yet of Death it bears a taſt, / And both are the ſame thing at laſt.

   1668, John Denham, “A Song”, in Poems and Translations, with The Sophy, London: […] [John Macock] for H[enry] Herringman […], →OCLC, page 116

   What neat repaſt ſhall feaſt us, light and choice, / Of Attick taſt, with Wine, whence we may riſe / To hear the Lute well toucht, or artfull voice / Warble immortal Notes and Tuskan Ayre?

   1673, John Milton, “Sonnet XVII”, in Poems, &c. upon Several Occasions, London: […] Tho[mas] Dring […], →OCLC, page 60

4. archaiccountablefigurativelyuncountableSomething that is intellectually or spiritually nourishing.

   He ſucks intelligence in ev'ry clime, / And ſpreads the honey of his deep reſearch / At his return, a rich repaſt for me.

   1785, William Cowper, “Book IV. The Winter Evening.”, in The Task, a Poem, […], London: […] J[oseph] Johnson; […], →OCLC, page 143

   2 more examples

   For nought he car'd his carcas long vnfed; / His mind was full of ſpirituall repaſt, / And pyn'd his fleſh, to keepe his body low and chaſt.

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto X”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 48, page 148

   Gao[ler]. Come Sir, are you ready for death? / Poſt[humus]. Ouer-roaſted rather: ready long ago. / Gao. Hanging is the word, Sir, if you bee readie for that, you are well Cook'd. / Poſt. So if I proue a good repaſt to the Spectators, the diſh payes the ſhot.

   1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iv], page 394, column 2

   Synonyms: refection

5. countableobsoleteuncountableThe consumption of food; also, refreshment obtained from eating; (generally) refreshment; rest.

   The silk pavilions of King Arthur raised / For brief repast or afternoon repose / By couriers gone before; […]

   1859, Alfred Tennyson, “Guinevere”, in Idylls of the King, London: Edward Moxon & Co., […], →OCLC, pages 245–246

   5 more examples

   Forthwith he runnes with feigned faithfull haſt / Vnto his gueſt, who after troublous ſights / And dreames gan now to take more ſound repaſt, […]

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto II”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 4, page 20

   I do dine today at the fathers of a certaine pupill of mine, where if (before repaſt) it ſhall pleaſe you to gratifie the table with a Grace, I will on my priuiledge I haue with the parentes of the foreſaid childe or pupill, vndertake your bien venuto, where I will proue thoſe Verſes to be very vnlearned, neither fauoring of Poetrie, wit, nor inuention.

   c. 1595–1596 (date written), W. Shakespere [i.e., William Shakespeare], A Pleasant Conceited Comedie Called, Loues Labors Lost. […] (First Quarto), London: […] W[illiam] W[hite] for Cut[h]bert Burby, published 1598, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]

   The other [room] was termed Triclinium, that is, Three beds encompaſſing a table, as may be ſeen in the figures thereof, and particularly in the Rhamnuſian Triclinium, ſet down by Mercurialis [Girolamo Mercuriale?]. The cuſtomary uſe hereof was probably deduced from the frequent uſe of bathing, after which they commonly retired to bed, and refected themſelves with repaſt; […]

   1650, Thomas Browne, “Of the Pictures of Eastern Nations, and the Jews at Their Feasts, Especially Our Saviour at the Passover”, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC, 5th book, page 204

   [H]ow inconſiſtent is it with his gravity and goodneſs, to couple a ſpiritual grace with matters of corporeal repaſt: […]

   a. 1662 (date written), Thomas Fuller, “Oxford-shire”, in The History of the Worthies of England, London: […] J[ohn] G[rismond,] W[illiam] L[eybourne] and W[illiam] G[odbid], published 1662, →OCLC, page 328

   The Day already half his Race had run, / And ſummon'd him to due Repaſt at Noon, / But Love could feel no Hunger but his own.

   1700, [John] Dryden, “Theodore and Honoria, from Boccace”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 260

   Synonyms: refection

present singular third person repasts · participle present repasting · participle past repasted · past repasted

1. archaictransitiveTo supply (an animal or person) with food; to feed.

   To his good friends thus wide I'le ope my armes, / And like the kind life-rendring Pelican, / Repaſt them with my blood.

   c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke: […] (Second Quarto), London: […] I[ames] R[oberts] for N[icholas] L[ing] […], published 1604, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene v]

   1 more example

   The top-leaves and oldeſt would be gathered laſt of all, as being moſt proper to repaſt the worms with towards their laſt change.

   1670, John Evelyn, “. Chapter IX. Of the Mulberry.”, in Sylva, or A Discourse of Forest-trees and the Propagation of Timber in His Majesties Dominions. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Jo[hn] Martyn, and Ja[mes] Allestry, printers to the Royal Society, →OCLC, page 61

2. archaicfigurativelytransitiveTo provide (a person) with intellectual or spiritual nourishment; to enlighten, to feed.
3. alsoobsoletereflexivetransitiveTo refresh (oneself or someone) through eating and drinking.

   [A]nd ſoo within a lytil whyle they came to that heremytage ⸝ and there they dranke the wyne ⸝ and ete the veneſon and the foules baken ⸝ And ſo whan they had repaſted hem wel ⸝ the dwarf retorned ageyn with his veſſel vn to the caſtel ageyne ⸝ […]

   And so within a little while they came to that hermitage, and there they drank the wine, and ate the venison and the baked fowls. And so when they had repasted themselves well, the dwarf returned again with his vessel unto the castle again, […]

   [1470–1485 (date produced), Thomas Malory, “Capitulum xiv”, in [Le Morte Darthur], book VII (in Middle English), [London: […] by William Caxton], published 31 July 1485, →OCLC, leaf 117, verso; republished as H[einrich] Oskar Sommer, editor, Le Morte Darthur […], London: David Nutt, […], 1889, →OCLC, page 234, lines 25–29

4. alsofigurativelyintransitiveobsoleteUsually followed by on or upon: to take food and drink; to feast, to feed.

   And now they reach'd the naval Walls, and found / The Guards repaſting, while the Bowls go round; […]

   1720, Homer, “Book XXIV”, in Alexander Pope, transl., The Iliad of Homer, volume VI, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC, page 170, lines 545–546

   1 more example

   [O]n arrival of the dinner-hour, repasteth on domestic fare, (making especial mention of certain fishes, and concluding with cheese,) […]

   1842, “In Praise of Porter”, in Bentley’s Miscellany, volume XII, London: Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, fytte the fourth, marginal note, page 346