cater
verb
- provide for, such as food at a party
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈkeɪtə/ / /ˈkatə/ / /ˈkeɪtəɹ/
adv
Etymology: Probably ultimately from French quatre (“four”), possibly via cater (“change-ringing”), although Liberman argues for a derivation from a North Germanic prefix meaning "crooked, angled, clumsy" from which he also derives cater-cousin and, via Norse, Old Irish cittach (“left-handed, awkward”). He finds this more likely than extension of the dice and change-ringing term cater as an adverb, given the likely cognates in other Germanic languages. Caterpillar and caterwaul are unrelated, being derived from cognates to cat, but may have influenced the pronunciation of Liberman's proposed earlier *cate- or undergone similar sound changes.
- Diagonally.
“Cater and Cater-cornered, diagonal; diagonally. To ‘cut cater’ in the case of velvet, cloth, etc., is... ‘cut on the cross’. Cater-snozzle, to make an angle; to ‘mitre’.”
name
Etymology: Occupational surname, from cater, obsolete form of caterer.
- A surname originating as an occupation.
noun
Etymology: From French quatre (“four”). Doublet of cuatro.
- Four.
“The auditour... cometh in with sise sould, and cater denere, for vi.s. and iiii.d.”
- The four of cards or dice.
“Cater is a very good caste.”
- A method of ringing nine bells in four pairs with a ninth tenor bell.
“The very terms of the art are enough to frighten an amateur. Hunting, dodging... caters, cinques, etc.”
“Cater... The name given by change ringers to changes of nine bells. The word should probably be written quaters, as it is meant to denote the fact that four couples of bells change their places in the order of ringing.”
verb
Etymology: Probably ultimately from French quatre (“four”), possibly via cater (“change-ringing”), although Liberman argues for a derivation from a North Germanic prefix meaning "crooked, angled, clumsy" from which he also derives cater-cousin and, via Norse, Old Irish cittach (“left-handed, awkward”). He finds this more likely than extension of the dice and change-ringing term cater as an adverb, given the likely cognates in other Germanic languages. Caterpillar and caterwaul are unrelated, being derived from cognates to cat, but may have influenced the pronunciation of Liberman's proposed earlier *cate- or undergone similar sound changes.
- To place, set, move, or cut diagonally or rhomboidally.
“The trees are set checkerwise, and so catred [Latin: partim in quincuncem directis], as looke which way ye wyl, they lye leuel.”
“‘Cater’ across the rails ever so cleverly, you cannot escape jolt and jar.”