cater

[ key-ter ]
/ ˈkeɪ tər /

verb (used without object)

to provide food, service, etc., as for a party or wedding: to cater for a banquet.
to provide or supply what amuses, is desired, or gives pleasure, comfort, etc. (usually followed by to or for): to cater to popular demand; to cater to an invalid.

verb (used with object)

to provide food and service for: to cater a party.

Origin of cater

1350–1400; v. use of obsolete cater, Middle English catour, aphetic variant of acatour buyer < Anglo-French, equivalent to acat(er) to buy (see cate) + -our -or2

OTHER WORDS FROM cater

ca·ter·ing·ly, adverb un·ca·tered, adjective un·ca·ter·ing, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for cater

British Dictionary definitions for cater

cater
/ (ˈkeɪtə) /

verb

(intr; foll by for or to) to provide what is required or desired (for) to cater for a need; cater to your tastes
(when intr, foll by for) to provide food, services, etc (for) we cater for parties; to cater a banquet

Word Origin for cater

C16: from earlier catour purchaser, variant of acatour, from Anglo-Norman acater to buy, ultimately related to Latin acceptāre to accept