from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Dine \Dine\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Dined}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Dining}.] [F. d[^i]ner, OF. disner, LL. disnare, contr. fr.
an assumed disjunare; dis- + an assumed junare (OF. juner) to
fast, for L. jejunare, fr. jejunus fasting. See {Jejune}, and
cf. {Dinner}, {D?jeuner}.]
To eat the principal regular meal of the day; to take dinner.
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Now can I break my fast, dine, sup, and sleep. --Shak.
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{To dine with Duke Humphrey}, to go without dinner; -- a
phrase common in Elizabethan literature, said to be from
the practice of the poor gentry, who beguiled the dinner
hour by a promenade near the tomb of Humphrey, Duke of
Gloucester, in Old Saint Paul's.
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Duke \Duke\ (d[=u]k), n. [F. duc, fr. L. dux, ducis, leader,
commander, fr. ducere to lead; akin to AS. te['o]n to draw;
cf. AS. heretoga (here army) an army leader, general, G.
herzog duke. See {Tue}, and cf. {Doge}, {Duchess}, {Ducat},
{Duct}, {Adduce}, {Deduct}.]
1. A leader; a chief; a prince. [Obs.]
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Hannibal, duke of Carthage. --Sir T.
Elyot.
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All were dukes once, who were "duces" -- captains or
leaders of their people. --Trench.
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2. In England, one of the highest order of nobility after
princes and princesses of the royal blood and the four
archbishops of England and Ireland.
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3. In some European countries, a sovereign prince, without
the title of king.
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4. pl. The fists; as, put up your dukes. [slang]
[PJC]
{Duke's coronet}. See Illust. of {Coronet}.
{To dine with Duke Humphrey}, to go without dinner. See under
{Dine}.
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