Applesauces

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A sweet and often smooth sauce made from cooked apples that can be used as a condiment or ingredient in various dishes
2. A fruit-based puree primarily used in desserts or as a side dish with savory meals
3. A sauce that is commonly prepared by simmering apples with sugar and spices, resulting in a popular accompaniment to both sweet and savory foods

Etymology: "Applesauces" is simply the plural of "applesauce," so its history is that of the singular form. The word is a plain compound of "apple" and "sauce," joining the English word for the fruit with the word for a liquid dressing or accompaniment, which came into English from Old French "sauce," itself from Latin "salsa," meaning "salted" or "seasoned." Applied to apples cooked down into a puree, "sauce" carries that older sense of something poured over or served alongside food, which explains why the dish is most often eaten with savory meals such as roast pork, though it turns up in desserts too.

Synonyms: applesauce, apple sauce