cater

cater
\ \ [16] Cater is related to French acheterbuy’, and originally meant ‘buy provisions’. It comes ultimately from Vulgar Latin *accaptāre, a compound verb formed from the Latin prefix ad- ‘to’ and the verb captāretry to seize’ (source of English catch and chase). This provided the basis for the Anglo-Norman agent noun acatourbuyer, purveyor’, which gave English the now obsolete acater. Losing its a-, this became cater, which until the early 17th century was the word for what we would now call a ‘caterer’. At around the same time cater began to be used as a verb; the first known example of this is in Shakespeare’s As You Like It II, iii: ‘He that doth the ravens feed, yea providently caters for the sparrow’.
\ \ Cf.CAPTURE, CATCH, CHASE

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Cater 2 U — Single par Destiny s Child extrait de l’album Destiny Fulfilled Sortie 19 juillet 2005 (12 pouces) 25 juillet 2005 (CD) 9 août 2005(Australie) …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Cater 2 U — «Cater 2 U» Сингл Destiny s Child Выпущен 19 июля 2005r. (12 ) 25 июля 2005r. (CD) …   Википедия

  • Cater — is a surname, and may refer to:*Monte Cater Head Coach, Shepherd College Rams *Danny Cater (born 1940), Major League Baseball player *Jack Cater (1922 2006), Chief Secretary of Hong Kong *John Cater (born 1932), English actor *Mojca Cater (born… …   Wikipedia

  • cater — vb Cater, purvey, pander are comparable when they mean to furnish with what satisfies the appetite or desires. Cater basically implies the provision of what is needed in the way of food and drink {he that doth the ravens feed, yea, providently… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • cater — ► VERB chiefly Brit. 1) (cater for) provide food and drink at (a social event). 2) (cater for/to) provide with what is needed or required. 3) (cater for) take into account. 4) (cater to) satisfy (a need or demand) …   English terms dictionary

  • cater — verb. There are two typical constructions, with for (which is more usual), and with to (perhaps influenced by pander, and more common in AmE). There is no real distinction in meaning between the two, except that use of to with a personal object… …   Modern English usage

  • Cater — Ca ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Catered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Catering}.] [From {Cater}, n.] 1. To provide food; to buy, procure, or prepare provisions. [1913 Webster] [He] providently caters for the sparrow. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. By extension: To… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cater — UK US /ˈkeɪtər/ verb [I or T] ► to provide the food and drinks at an event, for an organization, etc.: »Delegates can have meals catered by the hotel while the conference is underway. cater for sth »There is plenty of work to be had catering for… …   Financial and business terms

  • cater — [kāt′ər] vi. [< obs. cater, buyer < ME catour, aphetic for achatour < OFr < achater, to buy, provide < VL * accaptare < L ad , to + captare, to strive, intens. of capere, to take hold: see HAVE] 1. to provide food; serve as a… …   English World dictionary

  • Cater — Ca ter, n. [OE. catour purchaser, caterer, OF. acator, fr. acater, F. acheter, to buy, provide, fr. LL. accaptare; L. ad + captare to strive, to seize, intens, of capere to take, seize. Cf. {Acater}, {Capacious}.] A provider; a purveyor; a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Cater — Ca ter, n. [F. quatre four.] The four of cards or dice. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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