'diet' as in to convene a congress

Posted by Lap of the Goddess on May 19, 2003

I was reading Baudolino by Umberto Eco and he used the word 'diet' in a way with which I was completely unfamiliar.

eg. In one section he said... "Frederick first had to settle things with the Poles... In March he convened a new diet at Worms to prepare for another descent into Italy, where Milan, as usual, with her allies, was becoming more and more unruly, then a diet at Herbipolis in September, and one in Besancon in October; in short, he seemed possessed."

The use of the word - diet - here, appears to mean something like a congress or conference.

Is anyone else familiar with this term, can tell me how and where it comes from, and how it should be pronounced. Is it pronounced the same way as the word to describe an eating regimen?

• 'diet' as in to convene a congress Henry 05/19/03
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      • 'diet' as in congress - great stuff, thanks Lotg 05/20/03