Historically, dinner was the largest meal of the day, typically eaten at midday, but its timing shifted dramatically between the 16th and 19th centuries, moving ever later into the afternoon and evening. The word derives from Old French disner (to break one's fast), sharing roots with the modern French déjeuner, yet its meaning evolved to signify the main, heavy meal rather than breakfast. This evolution is vividly illustrated by historical figures: Louis XIV dined at noon in the 1600s, King George III at 4:00 PM in 1765, and by the mid-1800s, the fashionable elite in places like Paris were dining as late as 7 or 8 PM, making the dinner hour a strong marker of class and fashion. Today, in most Western cultures, dinner usually refers to the largest evening meal, with supper often used as a synonym. Nevertheless, the word retains its flexibility, still being used for midday meals on special occasions such as Christmas dinner, and in hot climates, the main meal is often deliberately reserved for the cooler evening hours.