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An entertainment; a feast. A grand political dinner. Tennyson.

Having no dinner. Fuller.

Of or pertaining to dinner. [R.] The dinnerly officer. Copley.

The time just after dinner. "An after-dinner's sleep." Shak. [Obs.] -- a.

Preceding dinner.

A tin dinner pail. [Local, U. S.] Bartlett.

cooked by boiling; subjected to the action of a boiling liquid; as, boiled meat; a boiled dinner; boiled clothes.

on; a separation and dispersion of the parts or members; as, a break-up of an assembly or dinner party; a break-up of the government.

Gentle exercise, causing a quicker respiration. An after dinner's breath. Shak. Out of breath, breathless, exhausted; breathing with difficulty. -- Under one's breath, in low tones.

Of or pertaining to dinner or supper. [R.] The Romans washed, were anointed, and wore a cenatory garment. Sir T. Browne.

simple animal; whence are derived our usual phrases of cony and cony catcher. Diet's Dry Dinner (1599).

to be the cook of the cordons bleus, or Knights of the Holy Ghost, famous for their good dinners. -- Cordon sanitaire (kd" s Etym: [F., sanitary cordon], a line of troops or military posts around a district infected with disease, to cut off communication, and thus prevent the disease from spreading.…

meal served at one time, with its accompaniments. He [Goldsmith] wore fine clothes, gave dinners of several courses, paid court to venal beauties. Macualay.

One who, at a public dinner party, sits at the lower end of the table as assistant chairman.

t the close of a feast or entertainment; pastry, fruits, etc., forming the last course at dinner. "An 't please your honor," quoth the peasant, "This same dessert is not so pleasant." Pope. Dessert spoon, a spoon used in eating dessert; a spoon intermediate in size between a teaspoon and a tablespoon. -- Dessert-spoon…

To eat the principal regular meal of the day; to take dinner. Now can I break my fast, dine, sup, and sleep. Shak. To dine with Duke Humphrey, to go without dinner; -- a phrase common in Elizabethan literature, said to be from the practice of the poor gentry, who beguiled the dinner hour by a promenade near the tomb of…

One who often takes his dinner away from home, or in company. A brilliant diner-out, though but a curate. Byron.

ng. Duke's coronet. See Illust. of Coronet. -- To dine with Duke Humphrey, to go without dinner. See under Dine.

In French usage, a dish served at the beginning of dinner to give zest to the appetite; in English usage, a side dish, served with a joint, or between the courses, as a cutlet, scalloped oysters, etc.

g dish usually eaten after the joints or principal dish; also, a sweetmeat, served with a dinner.