The Collaborative International Dictionary
Dine \Dine\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dined; p. pr. & vb. n. Dining.] [F. d[^i]ner, OF. disner, LL. disnare, contr. fr. an assumed disjunare; dis- + an assumed junare (OF. juner) to fast, for L. jejunare, fr. jejunus fasting. See Jejune, and cf. Dinner, D?jeuner.] To eat the principal regular meal of the day; to take dinner.
Now can I break my fast, dine, sup, and sleep.
--Shak.
To dine with Duke Humphrey, to go without dinner; -- a phrase common in Elizabethan literature, said to be from the practice of the poor gentry, who beguiled the dinner hour by a promenade near the tomb of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, in Old Saint Paul's.
Duke \Duke\ (d[=u]k), n. [F. duc, fr. L. dux, ducis, leader, commander, fr. ducere to lead; akin to AS. te['o]n to draw; cf. AS. heretoga (here army) an army leader, general, G. herzog duke. See Tue, and cf. Doge, Duchess, Ducat, Duct, Adduce, Deduct.]
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A leader; a chief; a prince. [Obs.]
Hannibal, duke of Carthage.
--Sir T. Elyot.All were dukes once, who were ``duces'' -- captains or leaders of their people.
--Trench. In England, one of the highest order of nobility after princes and princesses of the royal blood and the four archbishops of England and Ireland.
In some European countries, a sovereign prince, without the title of king.
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pl. The fists; as, put up your dukes. [slang]
Duke's coronet. See Illust. of Coronet.
To dine with Duke Humphrey, to go without dinner. See under Dine.