mealtime
UK[ˈmiːltaɪm]US[ˈmiːltaɪm]
n
The usual time at which a meal is eaten.
n
The time spent eating a meal.
Morpheme Breakdown
meal
time
meal
food
time
period
Etymology
The word 'mealtime' is a transparent compound formed from two native English elements. 'Meal' originates from the Proto-Germanic 'mēlą', which carried the dual meanings of "measure, mark, fixed time" and, by extension, "time for eating". This root is distantly related to the Latin 'mētīrī' (to measure), suggesting a conceptual link between measured portions and appointed times. 'Time' stems from the Proto-Germanic 'tīmô', related to the concept of "stretch" or "extension". The compound 'mealtime' logically combines these ideas to denote either the appointed hour for a repast or the duration of the eating period itself, preserving the original temporal sense of its constituents.
Analysis
Structure: meal (food) + time (period)
- meal: From Old English 'mǣl', meaning "fixed time, occasion, meal". Its functional role is the core semantic element, denoting the concept of an eating occasion.
- time: From Old English 'tīma', meaning "limited space of time, period, season". Its functional role is a compounding element that specifies the period associated with the core concept.
Examples
The family makes it a rule to gather together at mealtime.
Distractions like television are discouraged during mealtime.
Her job involves irregular hours, so she has no fixed mealtime.