LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · neutersecond declension

epulum

epulum n (genitive epulī)
Classical[ˈɛ.pʊ.ɫũː]Ecclesiastical[ˈɛː.pu.lum]

Meaning

  1. neuterfeast, banquet, festive entertainment
    “Tū mihi quodcumque hoc rēgnī, tū scēptra Iovemque conciliās, tū dās epulīs accumbere dīvum,“You [win] for me whatsoever sort of kingdom this [is], you secure [for me] a scepter and [favor from] Jupiter, you grant [to me the privilege] to recline at the feasts of the gods, and you confer [on me the] power of clouds and of storms.” (King Aeolus speaks with humble respect to Queen Juno; note the word repetition or anaphora: “You…, you…, you…, you….”)29 BCE – 19 BCE, Vergilius, Aeneis 1.78–80
  2. in pluralneuterdishes, meats.
  3. figurativelyin pluralneuterfood.

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Epulæ · Convivium · Dapes · Epulum · Comissatio

Epulæ is the general expression, the meal, whether frugal or sumptuous, whether en famille or with guests, at home or in public; convivium is a social meal, a convivial meal; dapes (from δάψαι, δεῖπνον), a religious meal, a meal of offerings; epulum, a solemn meal, mostly political, a meal in honor of something, a festival; comissatio (from κομάζειν), a gormandizing meal, a feast. (v. 195.)

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativeepulumepula
epulae
genitiveepulīepulōrum
epulārum
dativeepulōepulīs
accusativeepulumepula
epulās
ablativeepulōepulīs
vocativeepulumepula
epulae

Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book

inter cenam, inter epulas
during dinner; at table.
mensas exquisitissimis epulis instruere (Tusc. 5. 21. 62)
to load the tables with the most exquisite viands.
accipere aliquem (bene, copiose, laute, eleganter, regio apparatu, apparatis epulis)
to entertain, regale a person.

ĕpŭlum, i, n., and in the plur. heterocl. ĕpŭlae, ārum (EPULAM antiqui etiam singulariter posuere, Paul. ex Fest. p. 82, 14 Müll.), f. etym. dub.; perh. contr. from edipulum, from edo,
I. sumptuous food or dishes (cf.: daps, commissatio, convivium, cena, etc.).
I. Prop. (only in the plur.): si illi congestae sint epulae, Plaut. Trin. 2, 4, 70: mensae conquisitissimis epulis exstruebantur, Cic. Tusc. 5, 21, 62: vino et epulis onerati, Sall. J. 76 fin.; so opp. vinum, Liv. 8, 16; 9, 18 Drak.; 23, 18; Nep. Dion. 4, 4 al.; cf. opp. merum, Ov. M. 8, 572; opp. pocula, Verg. G. 4, 378; id. A. 1, 723: postquam exempta fames epulis, id. ib. 1, 216; Ov. M. 8, 829; 15, 82; Plin. 33, 1, 6, § 27 al.—Poet.: vestis, blattarum ac tinearum epulae, Hor. S. 2, 3, 119; cf. Verg. A. 6, 599.—
B. Trop.: oculis epulas dare, Plaut. Poen. 5, 4, 2: pars animi saturata bonarum cogitationum epulis, Cic. Div. 1, 29, 61; cf. discendi, id. Top. 4 fin.—
II. In gen., a sumptuous meal, a banquet, feast (in the sing. usually of banquets held on religious festivals or other public occasions, or which were given to a number of persons; cf. 1. epulo, II.).
A. Sing.: Jovis epulum fuit ludorum causa, Liv. 25, 2 fin.; cf. id. 27, 36; 31, 4 fin.; 33, 42 fin.; Val. Max. 2, 1, 2; Gell. 12, 8, 2: funebre, Cic. Vat. 12 sq.; cf. Liv. 39, 46: epulum dare, Cic. Mur. 36; Vell. 2, 56; Tac. H. 1, 76; Hor. S. 2, 3, 86 et saep.; (with visceratio), Suet. Caes. 38; cf. the foll. Of a feast in general, Suet. Aug. 98; Juv. 3, 229. —
B. Plur.
1. In gen.: quae (carmina) in epulis esse cantitata, Cic. Brut. 19, 75; cf. id. Tusc. 1, 2, 3 sq.; Quint. 1, 10, 20: in quibusdam neque pecuniae modus est neque honoris, nec epularum, Cic. Fin. 1, 16, 51: regis, id. Rep. 2, 21; Hor. S. 2, 2, 45; cf. * Caes. B. G. 6, 28 fin.: divum, Verg. A. 1, 79: prodigae, Tac. H. 1, 62: familiares, Suet. Ner. 22 et saep.—
2. Esp., less freq. of banquets on religious or public festivals (cf. A.), Cic. Leg. 2, 25, 63; id. Fl. 38, 95; Hor. C. 3, 8, 6; cf. (with viscerationes), Cic. Off. 2, 16; Vulg. Esth. 8, 17 al.

Origins

Possibly contracted from *edipulum, from edō.

Quick answers

What does epulum mean in Latin?
epulum, a noun, means “feast, banquet, festive entertainment; dishes, meats.; food.”.
What is the genitive of epulum?
The genitive singular is epulī. epulum is neuter, second declension.
How do you pronounce epulum?
In classical Latin, [ˈɛ.pʊ.ɫũː]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈɛː.pu.lum].