▪ I. cate, n.1
(keɪts)
Usually in pl. cates. Also 6 caittes.
[aphetized form of acate: the original sense being ‘purchase’.]
† 1. pl. Provisions or victuals bought (as distinguished from, and usually more delicate or dainty than, those of home production); in later use, sometimes merely = victuals, food. Obs. See acate 2.
| 1461–83 Ord. R. Househ. 38 Upon frydaye is made paymente for all manner of freshe cates. 1530 Test. Ebor. (Surtees) V. 293 The vetulers howse..wher I bought my caittes. 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Mark vi. 48 To by them cates to eate. 1579 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 132 Purvayour for his cates at home. 1590 Greene Fr. Bacon ix. 237 Bid them fall unto their frugal cates. 1658 Ussher Ann. vi. 300 Provision enough of corn, and salt, and water, but there was no store of fresh Cates to be had. 1782 H. More David ii. 32 Such plain cates and rural viands as suit his frugal fortune. 1816 Scott Old Mort. xii, The cates which she had provided. 1866 Felton Anc. & Mod. Gr. I. ii. iii. 321 Sprinkling with flour the boiling cates. |
b. Its frequent use with delicate, dainty, and the like, led to sense 2.
| 1579 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 152 For the desire of delicate cates. 1594 Barnfield Aff. Sheph. i. vi, Where daintie Cates upon the Board were set. 1637 Nabbe Microcosm. in Dodsley IX. 146 All the ambrosian cates Art can devise for wanton appetite. 1729 Savage Wanderer i. 241 Sav'ry cates, upon clean embers cast. 1735 Somerville Chase iii. 126 Well fed with every nicer Cate. |
2. Choice viands; dainties, delicacies.
| 1578 Timme Calvin on Gen. 92 The best fruits, what and how many cates and delights had he in one kind. 1594 Greene Look. Glass Wks. 1831 I. 122 These curious cates are gracious in mine eye. 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. ii. i. 190 Kate, the prettiest Kate in Christendome, Kate of Kate⁓hall, my super-daintie Kate, for dainties are all Kates, and therefore Kate Take this of me, Kate of my consolation. 1652 C. Stapylton Herodian xv. 126 While he in Silks and Cates did much abound. 1742 Shenstone Schoolmistr. 206 Whence oft with sugar'd cates she doth 'em greet. 1870 Disraeli Lothair xxviii. 130 He fed her with cates as delicate as her lips. |
b. occas. in sing.: A viand, dainty.
| 1634 Heywood Witches Lanc. iii. i. Wks. 1874 IV. 204 Taste of every cate. 1710 Addison Tatler No. 255 ¶3 The Christmas Pye, which in its very Nature is a kind of consecrated Cate. 1864 Sir F. Palgrave Norm. & Eng. III. 23 The finest wheat-corn; then a cate or luxury. 1875 F. I. Scudamore Day Dreams 22 Though it is a toothsome cate. |
3. fig.
| 1615 T. Adams Blacke Devill 22. 1624 Massinger Bondman, The pleasant taste these cates of comfort yield me. 1633 Benlowes Pref. Verses in P. Fletcher's Purple Isl., Let Readers judge thy book: Such Cates, should rather please the Guest, than Cook. |
▪ II. † cate, n.2 Obs.
[Pg. cate, prob. ad. Hindī. kaṭh catechu.]
The same as catechu or cutch.
| [1554 in Nunes; 1578 in d'Acosta (Yule).] 1698 Phil. Trans. XX. 465 The preparation of Cate (which he takes to be the same with Catechu). |
▪ III. † cate, v. Obs.
[f. cate n.1]
To dress (food).
| 1617 Hieron Wks. II. 51 The same meate cated one way content the stomake, which in some other fashion would not please. |
▪ IV. cate
obs. f. cat and catty n.