regale means A feast, a meal. It carries an Arena rating of 1878, earned across 27 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, regale ranks #900 of 17,127 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #1,313 of 17,134 for Most Malleable Words, #1,490 of 17,130 for Most Beautiful Words, #3,826 of 17,140 for Most Whimsical Words.
regale is pronounced /ɹɪˈɡeɪl/.
Why “regale” is a great word
REGALE — [Verb] To entertain or delight someone, especially with lavish hospitality, abundant food and drink, or engaging stories. From French régaler ("to entertain, feast"), from Old French regale, rigale, from gale ("merriment"), of probable Germanic origin; first recorded in English 1650–60. Unlike "narrate," which neutrally recounts events, or "feed," which merely provides sustenance, to regale is to perform a generous, theatrical act of hosting. It is the long table groaning under platters, the raconteur holding a circle rapt with tales, and the host insisting on one more glass from a seemingly bottomless bottle—a fleeting, perfect feast against the quiet drain of the hour.
Etymology
From French régaler (“to entertain, feast”), from Old French regale, rigale, from gale (“merriment”), probably of Germanic origin (see Old French galer). Influenced by Old French se rigoler (“amuse oneself, rejoice”), of unknown origin. Compare Middle High German begalen (“to charm; enchant”), English gale (“to sing; charm”). Compare also English gala.
noun
- A feast, a meal.
- a choice article of food or drink.
- refreshment.
verb
- To please or entertain (someone), especially with stories, tales or jokes.e.g.“Please, regale us with your best tales!”
- To provide hospitality for (someone); to supply with abundant food and drink.
- To feast (on, with something).e.g.“she hardly lets a Week pass without making the Lady Abbess and her Nuns a Visit, to regale with a Cup of burnt Brandy.” — 1723, Charles Walker, Memoirs of Sally Salisbury, section V:
- To entertain with something that delights; to gratify; to refresh.e.g.“to regale the taste/the eye/the ear”
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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