caterer
UK: ˈkeɪtərə | US: ˈkeɪtərər
n. a person or company that provides food and drink for events or gatherings
n. one whose business is to supply food services professionally
caterer = cater<to supply food> + er<agent noun suffix>
- cater: Derived from Middle English catour (buyer of provisions), from Anglo-Norman acatour (purchaser), ultimately from Latin accaptāre (to acquire). The modern sense evolved to mean "providing food services."
- er: A suffix forming agent nouns (e.g., "baker," "teacher"), indicating a person who performs the action of the root verb.
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to the commercial role of a catour (provisioner) in medieval markets. Over time, "cater" shifted from general purchasing to specializing in food supply, and the suffix "-er" solidified its meaning as a professional role. The logic reflects societal specialization in service industries.
The wedding caterer prepared a gourmet menu for 200 guests.
We hired a local caterer for the corporate luncheon.
As a caterer, she specializes in vegan cuisine.
The caterer arrived early to set up the buffet tables.
His reputation as a skilled caterer earned him high-profile clients.