dessert
UK[dɪˈzɜːt]US[dɪˈzɜːrt]
n
The sweet course eaten at the end of a meal.
Morpheme Breakdown
des
sert
des
sert
Etymology
The word 'dessert' originates from the French 'desservir', meaning 'to clear the table'. It is composed of the prefix 'des-' (indicating removal or reversal) and the root 'servir' (to serve). The term entered English in the 17th century, originally referring to the act of clearing the table after the main meal, which was then followed by the serving of fruits, sweets, and nuts. Over time, the meaning shifted from the action to the specific course of sweet foods served at the conclusion of a dinner.
Analysis
Structure: des + sert
des- (Latin prefix: 'undo, reverse, remove') + sert (Latin root: 'join, serve, connect')
Examples
For dessert, we had chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream.
She skipped the main course but saved room for dessert.
The restaurant is famous for its creative and elaborate desserts.