compere

See also: Compere and compère

English

WOTD – 28 February 2013

Alternative forms

compère

Etymology

A borrowing of French compère (“partner, accomplice”), from Old French comper, from Late Latin compater (“godfather”), from Latin com- (“with”) + pater (“father”).

Pronunciation

Audio (UK) (file)
(UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkɒmpeə/
(US) IPA^(key): /ˈkɑːmpeɹ/

Noun

compere (plural comperes)

(chiefly Britain) A master of ceremonies, especially for a television, variety, or quiz show.
Every year I am the compere for our Church Quiz Night.
- 2008, Kerry Katona, The Footballer's Wife, →ISBN, page 157:
  The compere came onto the stage holding the gold envelope that contained the winner's name.
- 2012, Steve Taberner, The Wigan Hammer: The Autobiography by Steve Taberner, AuthorHouse (2012), →ISBN, page 249:
  Not only for his fighting expertise but also reminiscent of a compere in a cabaret show working the crowd, as a build up to the main event.
- 2012, Sue Welfare, One Night Only, HarperCollins (2012), →ISBN, unnumbered page:
  They were barely settled when the final song came to an end; the audience began to applaud and after a few more seconds the voice of the compere came over the PA.

Translations

master of ceremonies — see master of ceremonies

Verb

compere (third-person singular simple present comperes, present participle compering, simple past and past participle compered)

(intransitive, transitive) To emcee, to act as compere.
I will be compering for next week's Village Fete.

Coordinate terms

commère

Translations

emcee — see emcee

Anagrams

compeer, precome

Italian

Noun

compere f

plural of compera

Anagrams

percome