Appetises

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. Characterized by stimulating the appetite or desire for food or drink
2. Describing the act of making something more enticing or appealing, often in relation to meals
3. Pertaining to the quality of provoking interest or eagerness, especially in culinary contexts

Etymology: This form, "appetises," is a British English variant of the verb "appetize," which means to stimulate the appetite or to make food more appealing. The root word "appetite" itself comes from the Latin "appetitus," meaning desire or longing, especially for food. "Appetite" entered English in the late Middle Ages through Old French "appetit," which carried much the same meaning. The verb form developed later by adding the suffix "-ize," a common English verbalizing ending borrowed from Greek through Latin and French. This suffix turns nouns and adjectives into verbs, often implying the action of causing or making something happen. So "appetize" literally means "to cause appetite" or "to stimulate desire," originally applied mainly to food. "Appetize" as a verb appeared in English around the 19th century, coinciding with an increased interest in culinary arts and food science. The British spelling "appetise" with an "s" rather than a "z" reflects the general British preference for "s" in verbs ending in "-ize/-ise," a difference largely due to French influence on British English spelling conventions. The use of this verb has remained closely tied to food and dining contexts, emphasizing the act of making dishes more inviting or appealing to eat. It also occasionally extends metaphorically to any action that arouses desire or interest, maintaining the core meaning inherited from its Latin and French ancestors.

Synonyms: appetites, hungers, desires, cravings, longings

Antonyms: disgusts, aversions, indifferences, repulsions, nauseas