love feast
English
Etymology
From love + feast, after Latin agape, Koine Greek ἀγάπη (agápē).
Noun
love feast (plural love feasts)
- (Christianity, historical) A symbolic communal meal held by early Christians in commemoration of the eucharist. [from 16th c.]
- Synonym: agape
- (Christianity) A religious service held by Moravians, Methodists and some other group, in imitation of such gatherings, characterised by partaking in a simple meal. [from 17th c.]
- 1789, Olaudah Equiano, The Interesting Narrative, vol. I, ch. 10:
- He then invited me to a love-feast at his chapel that evening.
- 1789, Olaudah Equiano, The Interesting Narrative, vol. I, ch. 10:
- (figuratively, now chiefly Canada, US) Any banquet or gathering to promote goodwill among the participants. [from 17th c.]
Translations
symbolic communal meal — See also translations at agape
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religious service
banquet to promote goodwill
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Further reading
agape feast on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
- “love feast”, in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th edition, Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin, 2000, →ISBN.
- “love feast”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
Anagrams
- love-feats