din·ner
n
re,
meaning "to break one's fast; that is, to eat one's first meal," a notion
also contained in our word breakfast. The Vulgar Latin word was
derived from an earlier word, *disi
i
n
re,
the Latin elements of which are dis-, denoting reversal, and i
i
nium,
"fast." Middle English diner not only meant "breakfast" but, echoing
usage of the Old French word diner, more commonly meant "the first
big meal of the day, usually eaten between 9
a.m. and noon." Customs change,
however, and over the years we have let the chief meal become the last meal
of the day, by which time we have broken our fast fast