deipnosophist

Meanings

1. A master of the art of dining, particularly learned conversation in the manner of Athenaeus's characters.

Etymology

From the 3rd-century Ancient Greek Δειπνοσοφισταί (Deipnosophistaí) by Athenaeus, derived from δειπνο- (deipno-, “deipno-, dinner-”) + σοφιστής (sophistḗs, “one knowledgeable in the arts of ~”). Sometimes misunderstood owing to confusion with pejorative senses of sophist.