Diet, n.
Etymology: [F. diète, L. diaeta, fr. Gr.
1. Course of living or nourishment; what is eaten and drunk habitually; food; victuals; fare. "No inconvenient diet." Milton.
2. A course of food selected with reference to a particular state of health; prescribed allowance of food; regimen prescribed. To fast like one that takes diet. Shak. Diet kitchen, a kitchen in which diet is prepared for invalids; a charitable establishment that provides proper food for the sick poor.
3 other Webster entries under this spelling
Diet, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dieted; p. pr. & vb. n. Dieting.]
1. To cause to take food; to feed. [R.] Shak.
2. To cause to eat and drink sparingly, or by prescribed rules; to regulate medicinally the food of. She diets him with fasting every day. Spenser.
Diet, v. i.
1. To eat; to take one's meals. [Obs.] Let him . . . diet in such places, where there is good company of the nation, where he traveleth. Bacon.
2. To eat according to prescribed rules; to ear sparingly; as, the doctor says he must diet.
Diet, n.
A legislative or administrative assembly in Germany, Poland, and some other countries of Europe; a deliberative convention; a council; as, the Diet of Worms, held in 1521.