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Glite Dictionary
cateress

cateress

9.9
An old word for a woman who prepares and serves food at events
  • noun
  • /ˈkeɪtərɛs/
  • Archaic
translation icon : caterina
  • The cateress arranged a beautiful display of food for the wedding reception.

Examples

  • In the kitchen, partly partitioned by a curtain, the cateress and her helper were busy.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Later, the cateress brushed the crusts into a garbage sack.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • A cateress was doing the party, but everybody was pitching in.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • His eye caught that of the cateress, there in the kitchen with her shiny-armed helper.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Cateress?

    Fiction book (1995)

  • "What of Milton's insight about the good cateress who means her provision only to the good that live according to her sober laws and holy dictate of spare temperance?"

    Academic text (1992)

  • As the cateress served the guests, everyone praised her delicious dishes.

  • The cateress worked tirelessly to ensure that every detail of the event was perfect.

Synonyms

caterer
vscateress
70 2.7

A person or company that provides food and drink for events

is an older female term for someone who does that at gatherings
banqueter
vscateress
6.3

A person who hosts a large formal meal for many guests

refers to an older female provider rather than the event host

How Modern

caterer
70 2.7
cateress
  • Archaic
9.9

Surface Forms

cateress singular
cateresses plural

Morphology

cateress = cater (transparent) = cater + ess

Formed by adding the feminine suffix '-ess' to 'cater', so the meaning 'female person who provides catering' is directly predictable, though the form is archaic.

Etymology

The word cateress comes from cater, which means 'to provide food', plus the feminine ending -ess, like in waitress, so a cateress is a woman who provides food and service for events.