Convivial describes something related to feasting, drinking, and good company, evoking a jovial atmosphere, and derives from the Latin word for banquet.
Convivial relates to feasting, drinking, and good company, suggesting a jovial mood. The word originates from the Latin word for banquet.
| Word | convivial |
|---|---|
| Date | September 9, 2007 |
| Type | adjective |
| Syllables | kun-VIV-ee-ul |
| Etymology | "Convivial" traces to "convivium," a Latin word meaning "banquet," and tends to suggest a mood of full-bellied joviality. Charles Dickens aptly captures that sense in his novel David Copperfield: "We had a beautiful little dinner. Quite an elegant dish of fish; the kidney-end of a loin of veal, roasted; fried sausage-meat; a partridge, and a pudding. There was wine, and there was strong ale.... Mr. Micawber was uncommonly convivial. I never saw him such good company. He made his face shine with the punch, so that it looked as if it had been varnished all over. He got cheerfully sentimental about the town, and proposed success to it." |
| Examples | Ellen and Kevin's dinner parties are always relaxed, convivial events, with good food in abundance, and wine and conversation both flowing freely. |
| Definition | : relating to, occupied with, or fond of feasting, drinking, and good company |
Tags: wordoftheday::adjective
Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.
Next card: Benign english latin b september adjective bih-nyne benediction
Previous card: Sonare dissonant latin related september adjective diss-uh-nunt root
Up to card list: Word of the Day