Deip·nos'o·phist (dīp*nŏs'o*fĭst) noun [ Greek deipnosofisth`s ; dei^pnon a meal + sofisth`s a wise man, sophist.] One of an ancient sect of philosophers, who cultivated learned conversation at meals. Found on http://www.encyclo.co.uk/webster/D/27
deipnosophist, deipnosophistic, deipnosophism 1. Someone who is learned in the art of dining; also said to be, one who is an adept conversationalist at the dinner table. 2. A master of the art of dining: taken from the title of the Greek work of Atheneus, in which a number of learned men are represented as dining together and discussing subjects th... Found on http://www.wordinfo.info/words/index/info/view_unit/1987/