Etymology Map
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Feast

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a large meal, typically a celebratory one; a religious festival

Where does the word "feast" come from? It comes from Latin festa, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
festa
Latin · ancient
"festivals, holidays"
neuter plural of 'festus', joyful, the same root as 'festival'
2
Stage 2 of 3
feste
Old French · medieval
"religious festival"
a religious festival day; the lost 's' is marked in modern French 'fête' by the circumflex
3
Stage 3 of 3
feast
English · 1200s
"a large celebratory meal"
moved from holy days to the lavish meals that marked them
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Read the full story

Feast’s story begins in Latin: festa meant “festivals, holidays.” Neuter plural of 'festus', joyful, the same root as 'festival'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as feste. A religious festival day; the lost 's' is marked in modern French 'fête' by the circumflex. It reached English by 1200s as feast. Moved from holy days to the lavish meals that marked them. Today, feast means a large meal, typically a celebratory one; a religious festival.