Appetizing

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈæp.ə.taɪz.ɪŋ/

Definitions

1. Stimulating the desire to eat through an enticing and appealing visual or olfactory presence
2. Having qualities that attract the desire to consume food by appearing delicious or fragrant
3. Evoking hunger or interest in eating through a pleasing look or aroma

Etymology: The adjective "appetizing" is a calque, meaning a word-for-word copy built from the parts of a foreign word. Its model was the French "appétissant," which describes food that stimulates the appetite. French formed that from "appétit," meaning appetite, and the suffix "-issant," the equivalent of English "-ing." English speakers rebuilt the same pattern from their own materials, taking the stem of "appetite" and attaching the native "-ing" ending. The effect is that the English word is essentially a French idea wearing English parts. "Appetite" itself came into English from Old French and ultimately from Latin "appetitus," a noun from "appetere," meaning to strive after or long for. So the word's deepest sense is reaching toward something desired, and the modern sense of food that makes you hungry is a narrowing of that broader longing.

Synonyms: tempting, enticing, delicious, mouthwatering, savory

Antonyms: unappetizing, repulsive, offensive, disgusting, unpalatable