Definition

Noun: - The person who proposes toasts and introduces speakers at a banquet: A symposiarch is the master of ceremonies or host at a formal dinner or banquet, particularly one with speeches or a program. This person is responsible for leading the event, making toasts, and introducing the speakers.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The company president acted as the symposiarch for the annual awards dinner.
  • As the symposiarch, his duty was to propose a toast to the guest of honor.

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Literary Context: The term originates from ancient Greek "symposiarchos," referring to the master of a drinking party or symposium who set the rules for the evening. In modern, more formal usage, it retains this sense of a presiding host at a structured social gathering involving speeches.
  • In Plato's dialogue, the character Phaedrus serves as the symposiarch for the evening's discussions on love.

Variants and Related Words

• Symposium (n): A conference or meeting to discuss a particular subject, or historically, a drinking party with conversation. This is the event over which a symposiarch presides.
  • He attended an academic symposium on climate change.

Synonyms

• Toastmaster: A person who proposes toasts and introduces speakers at a public dinner.
• Master of Ceremonies (MC or emcee): A person who hosts a staged event or performance, introducing the speakers or performers.
• Host (in a formal, presiding context).

Notes on Meaning

• The term is formal and somewhat archaic or specialized. It is most commonly encountered in historical, literary, or very formal modern contexts (e.g., certain university or diplomatic dinners) rather than in everyday conversation.

Noun

1. the person who proposes toasts and introduces speakers at a banquet