compere

See also: Compere and compère

English

WOTD – 28 February 2013

Alternative forms

• compère

Etymology

A borrowing of French compère (“partner, accomplice”), from Old French comper, from Late Latin compater (“godfather”), from Latin com- (“with”) + pater (“father”). Doublet of compeer, compadre, and goombah.

Pronunciation

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkɒmpeə/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈkɑːmpeɹ/

Noun

compere (plural comperes)

1. (chiefly British, Ireland) A master of ceremonies, especially for a television, variety, or quiz show.

   Every year I am the compere for our Church Quiz Night.

   • 2008, Kerry Katona, The Footballer's Wife‎^[1], →ISBN, page 157:

     The compere came onto the stage holding the gold envelope that contained the winner's name.

   • 2012, Steve Taberner, The Wigan Hammer: The Autobiography by Steve Taberner‎^[2], AuthorHouse, →ISBN, page 249:

     Not only for his fighting expertise but also reminiscent of a compere in a cabaret show working the crowd, as a build up to the main event.

   • 2012, Sue Welfare, One Night Only‎^[3], HarperCollins, →ISBN, unnumbered page:

     They were barely settled when the final song came to an end; the audience began to applaud and after a few more seconds the voice of the compere came over the PA.

Translations

master of ceremonies — see master of ceremonies

Verb

compere (third-person singular simple present comperes, present participle compering, simple past and past participle compered)

1. (intransitive, transitive) To emcee, to act as compere.

   I will be compering for next week's Village Fete.

Coordinate terms

• commère

Translations

emcee — see emcee

Anagrams

• compeer, precome

Italian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkom.pe.re/
• Rhymes: -ompere
• Hyphenation: cóm‧pe‧re

Noun

compere f

1. plural of compera

Anagrams

• percome

Middle English

Verb

compere

1. Alternative form of comparen