: a usually sweet course or dish (as of pastry or ice cream) usually served at the end of a meal
2
British: a fresh fruit served after a sweet course
Did you know?
Where does the phrase just deserts come from?
Why do we say that someone has gotten their just deserts? Does this turn of phrase have anything to do with dessert (“a sweet food eaten at the end of a meal”) or desert (“a dry land with few plants and little rainfall”)? In fact, the phrase employs neither of these words. Instead, it uses a completely unrelated word that happens to be pronounced like the word for sweets and spelled like the one for a dry place: desert, meaning “reward or punishment deserved or earned by one’s qualities or acts.” This little-used noun is, as you might have guessed, related to the English verb deserve. It has nothing to do with arid, dry land, or with cookies and ice cream.
Example Sentences
She doesn't care for rich desserts. Coffee and tea will be served with dessert. We had ice cream and apple pie for dessert.
Recent Examples on the WebDining critic Andi Berlin recommends the charcoal ribeye aguachile and beets in the clouds to start, the tuna fresco tostada and the short rib al tinto to share and flan for dessert. Sofia Krusmark, The Arizona Republic, 14 Sep. 2022 Once Lil Nas X's performance ended, guests sampled mini panna cotta berry martinis for dessert while saying their goodbyes—and looking forward to the next Vogue Club soirée. Concetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2022 Savor the pasta and save room for a bite of Angel food cake for dessert.oregonlive, 13 Sep. 2022 In the kitchen, chef Ayo Balogun prepares a prix fixe menu of Nigerian dishes, including pepper soup, freshly made cheese, and caramelized plantains for dessert. The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 8 Sep. 2022 But neither of those factors stop me from picking at a cheese board or ordering ice cream for dessert. Morgan Hines, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2022 Five flavors of Korean-style ice cream are served for dessert. George Castle, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2022 The group headed inside for dessert, but Naomie asked Paige to talk outside. Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 1 Sep. 2022 For dessert, Guo serves fruit, as is customary in China. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 30 Aug. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle French, from desservir to clear the table, from des- de- + servir to serve, from Latin servire