[ad. Gr. type *συμποσιαστής, f. συμποσιάζειν to drink together, f. συμπόσιον SYMPOSIUM.] One who takes part in a symposium.

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  1.  A member of a drinking-party; a banqueter.

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  In first quot. confused with SYMPOSIARCH; the definition is taken from Cotgr. s.v. Symposiarque.

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1656.  Blount, Glossogr., Symposiast, the master or overseer of a Feast, a Feast-maker.

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1830.  Gen. P. Thompson, Exerc. (1842), I. 199. The symposiasts of Whitby.

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1835.  T. Mitchell, Acharn. of Aristoph., 129, note. That the Spartans had distinguished themselves by their agreeable manners, but that the Athenians had carried away the palm, as symposiasts at the entertainment.

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1900.  W. Tuckwell, Remin. Oxford, 13. The delightful symposiasts … are gone to … the Mansion of Hades.

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  2.  One who contributes to a ‘symposium’ on some topic (SYMPOSIUM 2).

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1878.  R. Wallace, in Smith & Wallace, Life & Last Leaves (1903), 244. The view of Mr. Gladstone and the symposiasts.

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