(archaic) A quantity of food set on a table at one time; provision of food for a person or party for one meal; also, the food given to an animal at one time.
A number of persons who eat together, and for whom food is prepared in common, especially military personnel who eat at the same table.
A set of four (from the old practice of dividing companies into sets of four at dinner).
“The messiness of the room was evident, with clothes strewn everywhere and papers scattered across the floor.”
“The messiness between the two ex-lovers became evident when they started hurling insults and belittling each other in front of everyone at the party.”
“However, don't expect a cathartic payoff, because there is little emotional messiness in this largely intellectual exercise.”
