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Did you expect comestible to be a noun meaning "food"? You're probably not alone. As it happens, comestible is used both as an adjective and a noun. The adjective is by far the older of the two; it has been part of English since at least the 1400s. In fact, one of its earliest known uses was in a text printed in 1483 by William Caxton, the man who established England's first printing press. The noun (which is most often used in the plural form comestibles) dates to the late 1700s.
Synonyms
Examples of comestible in a Sentence
Adjective
some mushrooms are comfortably comestible, but others are decidedly poisonous
Noun
the gourmet food shop stocks a wide variety of comestibles from around the world
Recent Examples on the Web
Ryan Chapman, The New Yorker, 15 July 2022
For the next several weeks, acres of gingham blankets will be unfurled in grassy parkscapes coast to coast upon which thousands of wicker hampers will disgorge their comestible contents for the benefit of those who wish to dine al fresco.
—Adam Tschorn, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2022
At the end of a catering event, what’s left over and comestible makes its way to Rethink, a nonprofit that provides meals to people living without food security.
—David Kortava, The New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2021
As far as comestible trends, Barcelona has long been a lab for innovation both within Spain and abroad.
—Lauren Mowery, USA TODAY, 19 June 2017
Jay Martel, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2021
Throughout this in vino veritas revel, every sip of Jack Daniels and every comestible gives the partiers sustenance.
—Armond White, National Review, 1 Oct. 2021
Fast-food companies have long attempted to stave off disposability by piggybacking on broader cultural moments, hoping to extend their reach beyond the comestible into the permanently tangible.
—Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2020
Three hours later, Dragon and its cheesy comestible returned safely to Earth.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 3 June 2020
That same approach will hold you in good stead when tipping the folks who are delivering groceries to your door through services such as Yummy.com, Amazon Fresh or Instacart, some of whom are also plucking your comestibles off the shelves.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2020
The pregnancy apps Ovia, The Bump and What to Expect all compare them to comestibles.
—Alex Van Buren, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2020
For Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena, the geographic-specific comestible protected by the European Commission, head to Modena and Reggio Emilia provinces.
—Elizabeth Chang, Washington Post, 2 July 2019
Master chef Silvio Giavedoni provided the scrumptious comestibles.
—Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 21 May 2019
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Adjective
Where there were once ingredients, there is now a comestible.
—Ryan Chapman, The New Yorker, 15 July 2022
For the next several weeks, acres of gingham blankets will be unfurled in grassy parkscapes coast to coast upon which thousands of wicker hampers will disgorge their comestible contents for the benefit of those who wish to dine al fresco.
—Adam Tschorn, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2022
At the end of a catering event, what’s left over and comestible makes its way to Rethink, a nonprofit that provides meals to people living without food security.
—David Kortava, The New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2021
As far as comestible trends, Barcelona has long been a lab for innovation both within Spain and abroad.
—Lauren Mowery, USA TODAY, 19 June 2017
Noun
To the last comestible of recorded time.
—Jay Martel, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2021
Throughout this in vino veritas revel, every sip of Jack Daniels and every comestible gives the partiers sustenance.
—Armond White, National Review, 1 Oct. 2021
Fast-food companies have long attempted to stave off disposability by piggybacking on broader cultural moments, hoping to extend their reach beyond the comestible into the permanently tangible.
—Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2020
Three hours later, Dragon and its cheesy comestible returned safely to Earth.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 3 June 2020
That same approach will hold you in good stead when tipping the folks who are delivering groceries to your door through services such as Yummy.com, Amazon Fresh or Instacart, some of whom are also plucking your comestibles off the shelves.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2020
The pregnancy apps Ovia, The Bump and What to Expect all compare them to comestibles.
—Alex Van Buren, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2020
For Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena, the geographic-specific comestible protected by the European Commission, head to Modena and Reggio Emilia provinces.
—Elizabeth Chang, Washington Post, 2 July 2019
Master chef Silvio Giavedoni provided the scrumptious comestibles.
—Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 21 May 2019
Dictionary Entries Near comestible
Cite this Entry
“Comestible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comestible. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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