love feast

English

Etymology

From love +‎ feast, partial calque of Latin agape and Koine Greek ἀγάπη (agápē).

Pronunciation

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Noun

love feast (plural love feasts)

1. (Christianity, historical) A symbolic communal meal held by early Christians in commemoration of the eucharist. [from 16th c.]

   Synonym: agape

2. (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, chapter 10, in The Interesting Narrative, volume I:

     He then invited me to a love-feast at his chapel that evening.

3. (figurative, now chiefly Canada, US) Any banquet or gathering to promote goodwill among the participants. [from 17th c.]

Translations

symbolic communal meal — see also agape

• German: Liebesmahl n

religious service

banquet to promote goodwill

• German: Liebesmahl n

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