syssitian.

/sɪˈsɪtɪə/

Etymology: < Greek συσσίτια, plural of συσσίτιον common meal, or συσσιτία , noun of action < σύσσιτος eating in common or συσσιτεῖν to mess in common, < σύν syn- prefix + σῖτος food.

Ancient Greek History.

1. Meals eaten together in public.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > meal > [noun] > communal or public meal

ordinar1553

public table1561

ordinary1589

penny-commons1615

fellowshipa1650

ordinary suppera1661

house dinner1818

table d'hôte1821

grubbery1831

syssitia1835

mess1840

hall1861

potluck1867

syssition1874

1835 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece I. vii. 287 The most important feature in the Cretan mode of life, is the usage of the Syssitia, or public meals, of which all the citizens partook.

2. The custom of eating the chief meal of the day at a public mess, as practised in Sparta and Crete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > eating > eating in specific conditions > [noun] > eating in company

commensality1611

comessation1647

commensationa1682

mess1778

messing1803

syssitia1846

1846 G. Grote Hist. Greece II. ii. vi. 504 [Lycurgus] constituted..the Syssitia or public mess.

in extended use.1885 Pall Mall Gaz. 27 May 6/1 As regards the midday meal, I am aware that dinner is provided for the few who elect to do the preparation work at school,..but this is a very different thing from the syssitia that I desiderate.

Derivatives

syssition n.

/sɪˈsɪtɪən/ a common meal, mess.

ΘΚΠ