regale

<font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica"> <p> <strong> <font color="#000066">Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 24, 2023 is:</font> </strong> </p> <p> <strong>regale</strong> &#149; \rih-GAIL\&nbsp; &#149; <em>verb</em><br /> <p><em>Regale</em> is a somewhat formal word that means “to entertain or amuse by telling stories, describing experiences, etc.” It is often followed by <em>with</em>.</p> <p>// He <em>regaled</em> his party guests with stories of his adventures abroad.</p> <p><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/regale">See the entry ></a></p> </p> <p> <strong>Examples:</strong><br /> <p>“She'll [Shanti Pierce] bring loads of bamboo pieces and parts for people to create take-home art. Nudge her only slightly and she will <em>regale</em> you with stories of bamboo art contests, the health and medicinal benefits of bamboo and even the documented sensory benefits of youngsters working with bamboo.” — Brian Blair, <em>The Republic</em> (Columbus, Indiana), 17 Aug. 2023 </p> </p> <p> <strong>Did you know?</strong><br /> <p><em>Regale</em> has been an English verb since the early half of the 1600s, having been adapted from the French word <em>régaler</em>. That word traces back to the Middle French verb <em>galer</em>, which means “to have a good time.” (<em><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gala">Gala</a></em>, meaning “a festive celebration,” is from the same source.) Today, <em>regale</em> still applies when someone is entertaining or amusing another, especially by sharing stories. <em>Regale</em> also sometimes functions as a <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/regale">noun</a> meaning “a sumptuous feast.” An early use of the noun appears in the preface to a 1732 dramatic poem by George Granville: “An English stomach … will rise hungry from a regale of nothing but <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweetmeats">sweet-meats</a>.”</p> <br /><br /> </p> </font>