What does feaster mean?
A feaster is a person who eats heartily and abundantly, particularly at a feast, banquet, or other celebratory meal. The word derives from the noun 'feast', which traces back through Old French feste to the Latin festus, meaning festive or joyous — the same root that gives us festival and festivity. In modern usage, 'feaster' is a somewhat literary choice, appearing most often in narrative descriptions of grand meals, holiday gatherings, or historical and fantasy settings where communal eating takes center stage. It typically connotes robust enjoyment rather than mere consumption, and while it can occasionally suggest greediness depending on context, it more often paints an affectionate picture of appetite and celebration. The word also sees extended use for those who indulge liberally in non-culinary pleasures. Its plural, feasters, commonly describes a crowd dining together.
nounA person who is eating a great deal, heartily, or greedily, especially at a feast or lavish meal; more broadly, anyone who indulges abundantly in something enjoyable.
- A person who eats heartily or in large quantities, especially at a feast or celebratory meal.
- By extension, a person who indulges freely or excessively in any pleasurable activity or abundance.
"The banquet hall was filled with feasters raising their goblets long into the night."
"The medieval reenactment drew costumed feasters to tables laden with roast meats and ale."
"He was no delicate taster but a true feaster, returning to the buffet three times before dessert."
The standard plural simply adds -s; it is the most common form of the word in practice, since feasting is typically described collectively.
"The great hall echoed with laughter as dozens of feasters filled their plates."
Every 'feaster' at the table carries a word rooted in ancient Rome's holy days — the Latin festus — making every feast a little bit sacred.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of feaster
Feaster is formed from the English noun 'feast' plus the agentive suffix '-er', literally meaning 'one who feasts'. The underlying word entered Middle English from Old French feste, which itself descends from the Latin festa, the plural of festum meaning 'holiday' or 'joyous day', related to festus ('festive'). Cognates and relatives include festival, festivity, and the Spanish fiesta, all tracing back to the same Latin root celebrating days of religious and communal rejoicing.
Related word forms
How feaster is actually used
The word carries a mildly literary or descriptive tone rather than being everyday vocabulary; it often appears in historical, fantasy, or narrative writing about banquets and celebrations. It can carry a hint of hearty appetite without necessarily implying gluttony, though context may lend either connotation.
Easily confused with feaster
A 'feaster' is someone who eats lavishly, whereas a 'fester' is not a person at all — as a verb, to fester means a wound or problem to become worse over time.