Diet

n. [Fr. diète, It. & Sp. dieta, Lat. diæta, Gr. δίαιτα, manner of living, especially with reference to food, maintenance, board, and lodging.] 1. Course of living or nourishment; habitual food; what is eaten and drunk; victuals. For his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king. Jer. lii. 34. 2. Course of food selected with reference to a particular state of health; prescribed and limited nourishment; choice food. His brains and brimstone are The devil’s diet to a fat usurer’s head. Beau. & Fl.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. DIETED; p. pr. & vb. n. DIETING.] To cause to take food; to feed; to nourish; especially, to cause to eat and drink sparingly, or by prescribed rules.

v. i. To eat; to feed; especially, to eat according to prescribed rules; to eat sparingly.