diet

diet

diet¹ [dī′ət]

n.

[ME diete < OFr < ML dieta, diet, daily food allowance (meaning infl. by DIET²) < L diaeta < Gr diaita, way of life, regimen < dia-, through + root of aisa, fate < IE * aito-, share < base * ai-, to give, allot]

1.

a) what a person or animal usually eats and drinks; daily fare

b) figuratively, what a person regularly reads, listens to, does, etc.

2. a special or limited selection of food and drink, chosen or prescribed to promote health or a gain or loss of weight

vi., vt.

[ME dieten < ML dietare]

to eat or cause to eat special or limited food, esp. for losing weight

dieter

n.

diet² [dī′ət]

n.

[ME diete < OFr < ML dieta < L dies, day: see DEITY]

1. Scot. a day's session of an assembly

2. a formal assembly, as formerly of princes, electors, etc. of the Holy Roman Empire

3. in some countries, a national or local legislative assembly