partake

Everyday

1. (formal) To eat or drink something, usually offered to you: "partake of the feast". tree →
2. (formal) To take part in an activity: "partake in the games". tree →
3. (church) To receive communion, the bread and wine: "partake of the bread". tree →

In the lessons

A formal or old-fashioned word, found in stories, the Bible, church services and polite invitations. Christians speak of partaking of the bread and wine at communion. In everyday modern speech people say "join in" or "have some" instead.

Examples

• Will you partake of some tea and cake? tree →
• All the villagers partook in the harvest festival. tree →
• The guests partook of a great feast. tree →
• At communion, Christians partake of the bread and wine. tree →
• He would not partake in the cruel game. tree →
• "Do partake," said the duchess, offering the biscuits. tree →
• A COUNTRY MOUSE invited a Town Mouse, an intimate friend, to pay him a visit and partake of his country fare. tree →

Note

Irregular like "take": partake, partook, partaken. Usually "partake of" (food, drink) or "partake in" (an activity). Formal: in normal talk say "have", "eat" or "take part".

In Jewish tradition

A formal or old-fashioned word, found in stories, the Bible, church services and polite invitations. Christians speak of partaking of the bread and wine at communion. In everyday modern speech people say "join in" or "have some" instead.

Examples

• The Triad, composed of llie Monad and Duad, partakes of the nature of both. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →

Note

Irregular like "take": partake, partook, partaken. Usually "partake of" (food, drink) or "partake in" (an activity). Formal: in normal talk say "have", "eat" or "take part".