usually in pl. cates. Also 6 caittes. [aphetized form of ACATE: the original sense being ‘purchase’]
† 1. pl. Provisions or victuals bought (as distinguished from, and usually more delicate or dainty than, those of home production); in later use, sometimes merely = victuals, food. Obs. See ACATE 2.
1461–83. Ord. R. Househ., 38. Upon frydaye is made paymente for all manner of freshe cates.
1530. Test. Ebor. (Surtees), V. 293. The vetulers howse … wher I bought my caittes.
1548. Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Mark vi. 48. To by them cates to eate.
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 132. Purvayour for his cates at home.
c. 1590. Greene, Fr. Bacon, ix. 237. Bid them fall unto their frugal cates.
1658. Ussher, Ann., VI. 300. Provision enough of corn, and salt, and water, but there was no store of fresh Cates to be had.
1782. Han. More, David, II. 32. Such plain cates and rural viands as suit his frugal fortune.
1816. Scott, Old Mort., xii. The cates which she had provided.
1866. Felton, Anc. & Mod. Gr., I. II. iii. 321. Sprinkling with flour the boiling cates.
b. Its frequent use with delicate, dainty, and the like, led to sense 2.
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 152. For the desire of delicate cates.
1594. Barnfield, Affect. Sheph., I. vi. Where daintie Cates upon the Board were set.
1637. Nabbes, Microcosm., in Dodsley, IX. 146. All the ambrosian cates Art can devise for wanton appetite.
1729. Savage, Wanderer, I. 241. Sav’ry cates, upon clean embers cast.
1735. Somerville, Chase, III. 126. Well fed with every nicer Cate.
2. Choice viands; dainties, delicacies.
1578. Timme, Calvin on Gen., 92. The best fruits, what and how many cates and delights had he in one kind.
1594. Greene, Look. Glass, Wks. 1831, I. 122. These curious cates are gracious in my mine eye.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., II. i. 190. Kate, the prettiest Kate in Christendome, Kate of Kate-hall, my super-daintie Kate, For dainties are all Kates, and therefore Kate Take this of me, Kate of my consolation.
1652. C. Stapylton, Herodian, xv. 126. While he in Silks and Cates did much abound.
1742. Shenstone, Schoolmistr., 206. Whence oft with sugar’d cates she doth ’em greet.
1870. Disraeli, Lothair, xxviii. 133. He fed her with cates as delicate as her lips.
b. occas. in sing.: A viand, dainty.
1634. Heywood, Witches Lanc., III. i. Wks. 1874, IV. 204. Taste of every cate.
1710. Addison, Tatler, No. 255, ¶ 3. The Christmas Pye, which in its very Nature is a kind of consecrated Cate.
1864. Sir F. Palgrave, Norm. & Eng., III. 23. The finest wheat-corn; then a cate or luxury.
1875. F. I. Scudamore, Day Dreams, 22. Though it is a toothsome cate.
3. fig.
1615. T. Adams, Blacke Devill, 22. Sometimes he [the Deuill] supends his tyranny, and sits close in the heart, banketting on the lusts which he findes there, and sends not abroad for new cates.
1624. Massinger, Bondman. The pleasant taste these cates of comfort yield me.
1633. Benlowes, Pref. Verses, in P. Fletcher’s Purple Isl. Let Readers judge thy book: Such Cates, should rather please the Guest, than Cook.
