Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun One who fills and distributes cups of wine, as in a royal household.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun An attendant at a feast who conveys wine or other liquors to the guests.
  • noun Formerly, an officer of the household of a prince or noble, who tasted the wine before handing it to his master.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun One whose office it is to fill and hand the cups at an entertainment.
  • noun (Antiq.) One of the attendants of a prince or noble, permanently charged with the performance of this office for his master.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun One whose profession in general, or role in a particular event, is to carry a cup.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the attendant (usually an officer of a nobleman's household) whose duty is to fill and serve cups of wine

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

cup + bearer

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Examples

  • Among the prisoners were Pharaoh's baker and cupbearer.

    Rabbi David Wolpe: The Secret of Dreams Rabbi David Wolpe 2011

  • His youngest daughter, Hebe, goddess of beauty and youth—sometimes known as the patron goddess of the young bride and an attendant of the goddess Aphrodite—was his cupbearer.

    History of a Suicide Jill Bialosky 2011

  • His youngest daughter, Hebe, goddess of beauty and youth—sometimes known as the patron goddess of the young bride and an attendant of the goddess Aphrodite—was his cupbearer.

    History of a Suicide Jill Bialosky 2011

  • Among the prisoners were Pharaoh's baker and cupbearer.

    Rabbi David Wolpe: The Secret of Dreams Rabbi David Wolpe 2011

  • The cupbearer told the pharaoh about Joseph, and suddenly, he found himself standing in front of the ruler of the most powerful nation on earth to interpret his dreams.

    God Attachment Dr. Tim Clinton 2010

  • Joseph interpreted them; and as he predicted, the cupbearer was restored to his role, but the baker was executed.

    God Attachment Dr. Tim Clinton 2010

  • Can this possibly be the same vibrant woman as the appealingly windswept Hebe, cupbearer to the gods, who here stands, sedate, a society matron in a subdued gown, her hairdo impossibly high, in a lovely garden, plucking blooms from a rosebush, looking off into the distance, whilst her spaniel gazes adoringly at her feet?

    Archive 2010-05-01 Elizabeth Kerri Mahon 2010

  • Years later, the pharaoh had trouble with two of his servants, the baker and the cupbearer, so he sentenced them to prison.

    God Attachment Dr. Tim Clinton 2010

  • Can this possibly be the same vibrant woman as the appealingly windswept Hebe, cupbearer to the gods, who here stands, sedate, a society matron in a subdued gown, her hairdo impossibly high, in a lovely garden, plucking blooms from a rosebush, looking off into the distance, whilst her spaniel gazes adoringly at her feet?

    Jo Manning on Sophia Catherine Musters Elizabeth Kerri Mahon 2010

  • The cupbearer promised to help Joseph get out of prison, but he forgot about him—until the pharaoh also had disturbing dreams.

    God Attachment Dr. Tim Clinton 2010

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