Savour

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈseɪvə/

Definitions

1. A distinctive taste or smell, or to enjoy something slowly and deliberately
2. A specific quality of taste or smell that invites a thoughtful enjoyment, as well as an experience that encourages prolonged appreciation of flavors or aromas
3. The act of enjoying a flavor or aroma deeply and mindfully, or the particular characteristic of a taste that evokes a strong sensory experience

Etymology: Latin "sapor" meant flavour, and "sapio", the verb it comes from, meant both "to taste" and "to be wise." The two senses share a root, so a taste was once tied to knowing and discernment. English "savour" entered Middle English through Anglo-Norman and Old French "saveur," which kept the same sense of taste. The verb is a separate line. It descends from Late Latin "sapororare," meaning to give flavour to food or to make it tasty, and from there it came to mean giving pleasure. That shift from seasoning a dish to relishing an experience explains why the verb now means enjoying something slowly and deliberately. "Sapor" is a doublet of the noun, meaning the two forms arrived in English by separate routes but from the same source.

Synonyms: taste, relish, enjoy, appreciate, savor

Antonyms: dislike, detest, hate, reject, despise