di´et|er

di|et¹ «DY uht», noun, verb.

–n.

1. the usual kind of food and drink for a person or animal: »

My diet is made up of meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, water, and milk. Grass is a large part of a cow's diet.

SYNONYM(S): fare, victuals.

2. any special selection of food eaten in sickness, or to make oneself fatter or thinner: »

The doctor ordered a liquid diet for the sick child. The doctor put my uncle on a diet because he was too fat.

SYNONYM(S): regimen.

3. Figurative. a habitual or repeated exposure to something: »

She served him a steady diet of complaints.

–v.i.

1. to eat special food as a part of a doctor's treatment, or in order to gain or lose weight: »

Don't give me any cake; I'm dieting to lose weight.

2. to eat food; feed.

–v.t.

1. to cause to eat special or limited amounts of food and drink.

2. to feed with a particular kind of food.

╂[< Old French diete, learned borrowing from Latin diaeta < Greek díaita way of life]

–di´et|er, noun.

di|et² «DY uht», noun.

1. a formal assembly for discussion. SYNONYM(S): congress, convention, council.

2. the national lawmaking body in certain countries. Switzerland and Japan are governed by diets. SYNONYM(S): parliament.

3. Scottish. a) a day set for a particular meeting or assembly. b) a session or sitting, as of a court.

4. a formal assembly in the Holy Roman Empire to discuss or act upon public or state affairs.

╂[< Medieval Latin dieta day's work, session of councilors < Latin diaeta; see etym. under diet¹; (Cf. ↑diet) influenced by Latin diēs day]