symposium

noun

Etymology: Borrowed from Latin symposium, from Ancient Greek συμπόσιον (sumpósion, “drinking party”) from συμπίνω (sumpínō, “drink together”), from συν- (sun-, “together-”) + πίνω (pínō, “drink”). Morphologically compare compotation.

1. A conference or other meeting for discussion of a topic, especially one in which the participants make presentations.
2. A drinking party in Ancient Greece, especially one with intellectual discussion.
3. A collection of essays, articles or papers on a particular subject by a number of contributors.

   “THE CONCISE ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF WORLD RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES. Edited by P. Ransome-Wallis. Hutchinson. 50s. [...] The work is a symposium by writers who are mostly specialists in the topics about which they write.”