Sapidities

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The quality of having a pleasant taste or flavor that is appealing to the palate
2. Characteristics pertaining to the taste experiences that are rich and enjoyable
3. Referring to the distinct and satisfying flavors that stimulate taste sensations

Etymology: "Sapidities" is the plural of "sapidity", a noun meaning the qualities that make something pleasant to taste. Its root is the Latin "sapidus", meaning tasty or savoury, from "sapere", to taste or to have good judgment. That second meaning is the surprise: the same root gives English "sapient", wise, and "savour". The Latin verb carried both the sense of tasting and of discernment, so a person who could taste well was also regarded as discerning. "Sapidity" was borrowed from New Latin "sapiditas", and it is built from "sapid" plus the English suffix "-ity", which turns an adjective into a noun of quality. The plural "sapidities" simply counts distinct instances of that quality, such as the separate flavours in a dish or wine.

Synonyms: flavors, tastes