E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Dine (To).
Qui dort dîne. The seven sleepers and others required no food till they woke from their long sleep. The same may be said of all hibernating animals.
1
To dine with Democrtos. To be cheated out of one’s dinner. Democrîtos was the derider, or philosopher who laughed at men’s folly.
2
To dine with Sir Thomas Gresham. To go without one’s dinner; to be dinnerless. Sir Thomas Gresham founded the Royal Exchange, which was a favourite lounge for those who could not afford to provide themselves with a dinner.
3
To dine with Duke Humphrey. (See HUMPHREY.)
4
To dine with Mahomet. To die, and dine in paradise.
5
To dine with the cross-legged knights. (See next column, DINNERLESS.)
tos. To be cheated out of one’s dinner. Democrîtos was the derider, or philosopher who laughed at men’s folly.
