regale

/ri'geil/

Thân thiện

She regaled her guests with a delicious feast.

Definition

1. Verb (transitive):
   • To entertain or provide with something enjoyable, especially abundant or choice food and drink: To give someone great pleasure by offering generous hospitality, typically involving a feast or special treats.
   • To delight or entertain someone with something: To amuse or please someone by telling stories, sharing news, or providing other forms of entertainment.

Examples of Usage

• Verb (transitive):
  • The host regaled his guests with a magnificent seven-course meal.
  • She regaled the children with tales of her adventures in the jungle.
  • He was regaled with the finest wines from the cellar.

Advanced Usage

• "to regale someone with something": This is the most common construction, where the object of the verb is the person being entertained, and "with" introduces the source of the entertainment (e.g., food, stories, music).
  • The grandfather regaled the family with stories from his youth.
• Reflexive use ("to regale oneself"): To enjoy something pleasurable, especially food or drink, to the full.
  • After the long hike, they regaled themselves with a hearty picnic.

Variants and Related Words

• Regalement (noun): The act of regaling or the thing that regales; entertainment or a feast.
  • The evening was a regalement of music and fine cuisine.
• Regaler (noun): A person who regales others.

Synonyms

• Feast: To partake of a rich and abundant meal; to treat generously.
• Entertain: To provide amusement or enjoyment.
• Treat: To provide someone with food, drink, or entertainment at one's own expense.
• Pamper: To indulge with every comfort or pleasure.

Related Phrases

• "to regale the ears": To delight with pleasing sounds or music.
  • The orchestra regaled the audience's ears with a beautiful symphony.
• "to regale the eyes": To delight with a beautiful sight.
  • The art exhibition regaled our eyes with stunning paintings.

Notes on Meaning

The verb "regale" often implies a sense of lavishness, generosity, and pleasure. While its most traditional and frequent use involves providing food and drink, it is equally correct and common to use it for providing non-culinary entertainment, such as stories or music. The tone can be neutral, positive, or slightly ironic, depending on context.

Học thuật

Verb

1. provide with choice or abundant food or drink
   • Don't worry about the expensive wine--I'm treating
   • She treated her houseguests with good food every night

Từ đồng nghĩa

• treat