1610s, from Medieval Latin alimentarius "pertaining to food," from Latin alimentum "nourishment," from alere "to nourish, rear, support, maintain," from PIE root *al- "to grow, nourish" (see old).
alimentary al·i·men·ta·ry (āl'ə-měn'tə-rē, -trē)
adj.
Concerned with food, nutrition, or digestion.
Providing nourishment.