Word of the Day, 19 June 2025: ‘Viand’

Word of the Day: VIAND
Pronunciation: /ˈvaɪənd/

Meaning:

A viand refers to an item of food, especially a delicious or choice dish. It can also broadly mean food supplies or provisions.

Origin:

"Viand" comes from the Old French viande, which stems from the Mediaeval Latin vivanda meaning “things to be lived on.”

Vivanda is derived from Latin vivere, meaning “to live.”

The word entered English in the 15th century via Anglo-French viaunde or viande.

Historical Usage:

• In mediaeval Europe, viand was a general term for food—especially dishes served during elaborate royal feasts and banquets.
• During the Renaissance and into early modern English literature, it came to imply select or appetising foods, often linked to indulgence and festivity.

In Literature or Culture:

“My mother carried the brown package to a clearing where several men, women and children sat underneath a blazing sun; some rested, tired from digging; others munched hungrily at dug-up sandwiches and other viands.” — Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography by Mark Mathabane

“Everyone was hungry, and when they had gathered about the dining-room table, full justice was done to the viands served in the restaurant.” — The Little Washingtons' Travels by Lillian Elizabeth Roy

Examples in a Sentence:

• The banquet was laid out with an array of viands fit for a king.
• After a long day of hiking, even the simplest viand tasted like a gourmet meal.

Synonyms:

Dish
Delicacy
Food
Cuisine
Meal