sb. and a. Also 6 -ake, 7 -ach, -acke, -aque, 7–8 -ack. [ad. late L. symposiacus adj. (Gellius), in neut. pl. symposiaca also as sb. applied to certain writings of Plutarch (see A. 2 below), or Gr. συμποσιακός adj., f. συμπόσιον SYMPOSIUM: see -AC.]
A. sb. † 1. = SYMPOSIAST 1. Obs. rare–1.
1581. Mulcaster, Positions, xxxv. (1887), 129. Dipnosophistes, symposiakes, antiquaries.
2. A symposiac meeting or conversation, or an account of one; a symposium. Now rare or Obs.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 641 (heading), The Symposiaqves or Table-questions.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., II. iv. 81. Plutarch speakes positively in his Symposiacks, that amber attracteth all bodies.
1651. Jer. Taylor, Serm. for Year, Summer, xiv. 179. That which was fine in discourse at a Symposiack, or an Academical dinner.
1683. Dryden, Life Plutarch, in P.’s Lives (1758), p. xvi. A man … of whom Plutarch has made frequent mention in his Symposiaques or Table Conversations.
1748. J. Geddes, Comp. Antients, 110. In the Symposiac, or banquet [of Plato], where a variety of characters are brought in.
1792. W. Roberts, Looker-on, No. 30 (1794), I. 432. Taciturnity was … the best recommendation to the symposiacs of sages, and the lectures of philosophers.
1828. Blackw. Mag., XXIV. 252. At a Symposiac, near London.
1842. Tait’s Mag., IX. 683. Politics and symposiacs go ill together.
B. adj. Of, pertaining to, or suitable for a symposium; of the nature of a symposium; convivial.
1642. Cudworth, Union Christ & Ch., 21. He [sc. Plato] therefore in that excellent Symposiack dialogue concerning the nature of Love, brings in Aristophanes discoursing in this manner.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., V. xxi. 266. The ancient custome in Symposiacke meetings, to weare chapletts of Roses about their heads.
1731. Arbuthnot, Aliments, Pref. (1735), A ij. In some of those symposiac Disputations amongst my Acquaintance.
1840. G. C. Lewis, trans. C. O. Müller’s Hist. Lit. Greece, x. § 16. 124. These elegies, like those of Archilochus, Solon, Theognis, &c. were symposiac.
1850. Mure, Lit. Greece, III. 100. The next … order of symposiac performance … resembles our … custom of laying each guest under an obligation to sing his song.
1898. Stainer & Barrett, Dict. Mus. Terms, Symposiac, a term applied to cheerful and convivial compositions for voices, as glees, catches, rounds, &c.
So Symposiacal a. rare–1.
1826. New Monthly Mag., Jan., 17. Symposiacal forthpourings of gratitude.
