banquet

Everyday

A large formal meal for many people, usually to celebrate something, with speeches. tree →

In the lessons

In history and stories, kings held banquets in great halls with roast meat. Today schools and clubs hold banquets for awards. In Bible lessons, Jesus told stories of a great banquet to show that God invites everyone. Phrases: hold a banquet, a wedding banquet, banquet hall.

Examples

• The king held a banquet for his knights. tree →
• We went to the sports banquet for the awards. tree →
• The banquet had five courses. tree →
• The wedding banquet lasted all evening. tree →
• In the story, a great banquet was ready but the guests made excuses. tree →
• The banquet hall was full of long tables. tree →

Note

Say «BANG-kwit». Bigger and fancier than a dinner or a feast. Countable: a banquet, two banquets.

In Jewish tradition

A banquet is a great feast. In the Tanakh it is often a royal meal, as in the story of Esther, and sometimes it means the place where wine and food are served.

Interpretation. In the book of Esther the banquets are turning points: Esther uses them to save her people from Haman. Tradition also uses the feast as a picture of the joy of the world to come.

Examples

• Will the bands of fishermen make a banquet of him? (Writings JOB.40.30, JPS 1917) tree →
• So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. (Writings EST.7.1, JPS 1917) tree →
• He hath brought me to the banqueting-house, and his banner over me is love. (Writings SNG.2.4, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Say «BANG-kwit». Bigger and fancier than a dinner or a feast. Countable: a banquet, two banquets.