ca·ter / ˈkātər/ • v. [tr.] provide (food and drink), typically at social events and in a professional capacity: he catered a lunch for 20 people. ∎  (cater to) provide with what is needed or required: the school caters to children with learning difficulties. ∎  (cater to) try to satisfy (a particular need or demand): he catered to her every whim.DERIVATIVES: ca·ter·er n.

cater XVII. f. †cater (XIV) buyer of provisions, caterer, aphetic form of †acater purchaser — AN. acatour, var. of OF. achatour, f. achater buy (mod. acheter) :- Rom. *accaptāre, f. AC- + captāre catch.
Hence caterer XVI; see -ER 1.