cupbearer

C2 Topic:Food & Drink

US /ˈkʌpˌberər/ UK /ˈkʌpˌbeərə/ See IPA manual

Freq #84790

Meanings

1

noun
historical: a trusted court official who poured and served wine or another drink to a ruler

The king's cupbearer tasted the wine before presenting the goblet.
2

noun
a person in mythology or ceremony whose role is to fill and present drinking cups

In Greek myth, Hebe served as cupbearer to the gods.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · historical: a trusted court... wine stewardcourt attendantcupper

2 noun · a person in mythology or... ceremonial attendantwine server

Word family

Related forms goblet stewardsommelierHebeGanymede

Etymology

A compound of cup + bearer, attested in late Middle English. Because poisoning was a danger at court, serving a ruler's drink could be a position of unusual trust and influence. The title also translates the ceremonial role assigned to figures such as Hebe and Ganymede in Greek myth.

Topics

Food & Drink Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style

External links

# cupbearer

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈkʌpˌberər/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈkʌpˌbeərə/
**Frequency rank:** 84790

## Meanings
1. historical: a trusted court official who poured and served wine or another drink to a ruler
2. a person in mythology or ceremony whose role is to fill and present drinking cups

## Examples
- The king's cupbearer tasted the wine before presenting the goblet.
- In Greek myth, Hebe served as cupbearer to the gods.

## Synonyms
- wine steward
- court attendant
- cupper
- ceremonial attendant
- wine server

## Related Forms
- goblet
- steward
- sommelier
- Hebe
- Ganymede

## Etymology
A compound of cup + bearer, attested in late Middle English. Because poisoning was a danger at court, serving a ruler's drink could be a position of unusual trust and influence. The title also translates the ceremonial role assigned to figures such as Hebe and Ganymede in Greek myth.

## Topics
- Food & Drink
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- Register & Style

markdown