A formal meal where one sits down with cucumber sandwiches, pastries, and fine tea. Usually in a hotel or restaurant around 4 pm.
Afternoon Tea
ahf-ter-NOON TEE
ˌɑːftəˈnuːn tiː
Example Sentences
"We booked afternoon tea at the Ritz for her birthday."
"Afternoon tea includes delicate sandwiches, scones, and pastries served on tiered stands."
Etymology & History
Introduced by Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, in the 1840s. She started taking tea with light refreshments in the afternoon to stave off hunger between lunch and the late Victorian dinner hour (around 8pm). The practice quickly became fashionable among the upper classes.
Word Details
📅
Era
1840s
✓
Language
none
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Formality
formal
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