Obs. Forms: 1–3 æt, 2–4 ete, (2 hete), 3 at, 4 ethe, 7 eat. [Com. Teut.: OE. æt = OFris. êt, OS. ât, OHG. âz, ON. át:—OTeut. *æto-m, f. ablaut-stem of *etan to EAT. In later use perh. the vb.-stem used subst.]
1. That which is eaten, food.
a. 1000. Guthlac, 708 (Gr.). Oft he him æte heold.
c. 1000. Ælfric, On O. T., in Sweet, Ags. Reader, 60. Moyses … ætes ne gimde on eallum ðam fyrste.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 109. On monie wisen mon mei wurchen elmessan, on ete and on wete.
c. 1200. Ormin, 11640. Adam … Biswikenn wass þurrh æte.
1340. Ayenb., 248. Vor be to moche drinke and ethe sterfþ moche volk.
1609. Beaum. & Fl., Scornf. Lady, II. 70. Thou art cold of constitution, thy eat unhealthful.
2. The action of eating; a meal.
c. 1000. Ags. Ps. lviii[ix]. 15 (Gr.). Hi to æte ut ʓewitað.
a. 1200. Moral Ode, 258, in Cott. Hom., 175. Þo þe sungede muchel a drunke and an ete.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 63. Þe lichames festing is wiðtiging of estmetes … and untimliche etes.
Mod. Scotch, Gude to the eat = good to the taste.
Eat, Sc. variant of OAT.
