savour

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English[edit]

WOTD – 18 June 2024

Pronunciation[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

From Middle English savour,[1] from Anglo-Norman saveur, savor, savour, and Old French saveur, savor, savour (modern French saveur), from Latin sapor,[2] from sapiō (“to taste of (something); to have a flavour”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *seh₁p-, *sep- (“to taste; to try out”)) + -or (suffix forming third-declension masculine abstract nouns). Doublet of sapor.

Noun[edit]

savour (countable and uncountable, plural savours) (British spelling)

  1. (countable) An aroma or smell.
    • 1530 January 27 (Gregorian calendar), W[illiam] T[yndale], transl., [The Pentateuch] (Tyndale Bible), Malborow [Marburg], Hesse: […] Hans Luft [actually Antwerp: Johan Hoochstraten], →OCLC, Genesis viij:[20], folio x, verso:
      And Noe [Noah] made an aulter vnto the LORDE⸝ and toke of all maner of clene beaſtes and all maner of clene foules⸝ and offred ſacrifyce vppon the aulter. And the LORDE ſmellyd a ſwete ſavoure and ſayd in his hert: I wyll henceforth no more curſe the erth for mannes ſake⸝ […]
    • 1594, Christopher Marlow[e], The Troublesome Raigne and Lamentable Death of Edward the Second, King of England: […], London: […] [R. Robinson] for William Iones […], →OCLC, [Act V], signature [I4], verso:
      Matr[euis]. Gurney, I vvonder the King dyes not, / Being in a Vault vp to the knees in vvater, / To vvhich the channels of the Baſtell runs, / […] / Gur[ney]. And ſo do I, Matreuis: yeſternight / I opened but the doore to throvv him meate, / And I vvas almoſt ſtifled vvith the ſauour.
    • 1697, Virgil, “The Fourth Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 125, lines 87–88:
      Then Melfoil beat, and Honey-ſuckles pound, / VVith theſe alluring Savours ſtrevv the Ground; […]
      Referring to the actions of bees.
    • 1710 April 1 (Gregorian calendar), Isaac Bickerstaff [et al., pseudonyms; Richard Steele et al.], “Tuesday, March 21, 1709–10”, in The Tatler, number 148; republished in [Richard Steele], editor, The Tatler, […], London stereotype edition, volume II, London: I. Walker and Co.;  […], 1822, →OCLC, page 355:
      [M]ethought I smelled the agreeable savour of roast beef; […]
    • 1898, J[ohn] Meade Falkner, “The Rescue”, in Moonfleet (Nelson’s Library), London; Edinburgh: Thomas Nelson and Sons, published 1909, →OCLC, page 72:
      He held out to me a bowl of steaming broth, that filled the room with a savour sweeter ten thousand times to me than every rose and lily of the world, yet would not let me drink it at a gulp, but made me sip it with a spoon like any baby.
  2. (uncountable) The quality which the sense of taste detects; also (countable), a specific flavour or taste, especially one different from the predominant one.
      • 1587, Philip of Mornay [i.e., Philippe de Mornay], “That there is a God, and that All Men Agree in the Godhead”, in Philip Sidney, Arthur Golding, transl., A Woorke Concerning the Trewnesse of the Christian Religion, […], London: […] [John Charlewood and] George Robinson for Thomas Cadman, […], →OCLC, page 7:
        [B]y our Sences which conceiue al Colours, Sounds, Sents, Sauors, and Féelings; wee may ſee, heare, ſmell, taſt, and feele, that one ſelfſame workman made both the Sences, and the things that are ſubiect to the Sences.
      • 1606, Charles Steuens [i.e., Charles Estienne], John Liebault [i.e., Jean Liébault], “A Brief Discourse of Making of Drinkes of the Iuices of Fruits”, in Richard Surflet, transl., Maison Rustique, or The Countrey Farme: […], London: […] Arnold Hatfield for Iohn Norton and Iohn Bill, →OCLC, book III (The Orchard, or Greene Plot), page 533:
        Cyders differ one from another eſpecially in colour and ſauour or reliſh.
      • 1671, John Milton, “The Second Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J. M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 46, lines 840–842:
        A Table richly ſpred, in regal mode, / VVith diſhes pill'd, and meats of nobleſt ſort / And ſavour, […]
      • 1726, Homer, “Book XV”, in [Alexander Pope], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume IV, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC, page 19, lines 154–155:
        Viands of various kinds allure the taſte / Of choiceſt ſort and ſavour; rich repaſt!
      • 1896 March 16, Charles R[ufus] Skinner, “[Exhibit No. 16: Teachers’ Training Classes.] Regulations for Teachers’ Training Classes.”, in Documents of the Assembly of the State of New York, One Hundred and Twentieth Session, volume XVII, number 71, part II, Albany; New York, N.Y.: Wynkoop Hallenbeck Crawford Co., state printers, published 1897, →OCLC, section XIII (Syllabus), pages 848 and 849:
        [page 848] Taste, gives knowledge of the savors of material things. […] [page 849] The primary facts of knowledge, form, color, sound, weight, savor, odor, etc., can be obtained only by the direct action of material things upon the senses and cannot be taught from books.
      • 1914, Louis Joseph Vance, “Anarchy”, in Nobody, New York, N.Y.: George H[enry] Doran Company, published 1915, →OCLC, pages 18–19:
        Little disappointed, then, she turned attention to "Chat of the Social World," gossip which exercised potent fascination upon the girl's intelligence. She devoured with more avidity than she had her food those pretentiously phrased chronicles of the snobocracy— […] distilling therefrom an acid envy that robbed her napoleon [a millefeuille pastry] of all its savour.
    2. (countable, chiefly in the negative) An appealing or appetizing flavour, especially one which is savoury or strong.
      • 1560, [William Whittingham et al., transl.], The Bible and Holy Scriptures Conteyned in the Olde and Newe Testament. […] (the Geneva Bible), Geneva: […] Rouland Hall, →OCLC, S. Matthewe V:13, folio 3, recto:
        Ye are the ſalte of the earth: but if the ſalte haue loſt his ſauour, vvherevvith ſhal it be ſalted? It is thenceforthe good for nothing, but to be caſt out, & to be troden vnder fote of men.
      • 1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Ponder […], →OCLC; reprinted in The Pilgrim’s Progress (The Noel Douglas Replicas), London: Noel Douglas, […], 1928, →OCLC, page 106:
        His houſe is as empty of Religion, as the vvhite of an Egg is of ſavour.
      • 1816, Jedadiah Cleishbotham [pseudonym; Walter Scott], chapter XIII, in Tales of My Landlord, […], volume II (Old Mortality), Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for William Blackwood, […]; London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, page 338:
        "I have thought till now," she said, "that the Tower of Tillietudlem might have been a place of succour to those that are ready to perish, even if they were na sae deserving as they should have been—but I see auld fruit has little savour—our suffering and our services have been of an ancient date."
      • 1882, Ouida [pseudonym; Maria Louise Ramé], chapter I, in In Maremma […], volume I, London: Chatto & Windus, […], →OCLC, pages 12–13:
        [T]he lads felt that when no more tales could be told of the king of Maremma, savour would be gone out of the goatsflesh roasted in the charcoal in the woods, and the wineflask passed round when the last of the long furrows had been turned across the plains.
  3. (figurative)
    1. (countable) A distinctive sensation like a flavour or taste, or an aroma or smell.
      • 1649, Richard Baxter, “What Affections Must be Acted, and by what Considerations and Obje[c]ts, and in what Order”, in The Saints Everlasting Rest: Or, A Treatise of the Blessed State of the Saints in Their Enjoyment of God in Glory. […], London: […] Rob[ert] White, for Thomas Underhil and Francis Tyton, […], →OCLC, part IV, section 9, paragraph 5, page 747:
        [W]hy is not my life a continual Joy? and the ſavor of Heaven perpetually upon my ſpirit?
    2. (countable) A particular quality, especially a small amount of it; a hint or trace of something.
      Synonym: tinge
    3. (countable, chiefly in the negative) A quality which is appealing or enjoyable; merit, value.
    4. (countable, archaic) A reputation.
      • 1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg: Eucharius Cervicornus and J. Soter?], →OCLC, Exodus v:[19], folio xxv, verso, column 2:
        The LORDE loke vpon you, & iudge it, for ye haue made the ſauoure of vs to ſtynke before Pharao and his ſeruauntes, and haue geuen them a ſwerde in their handes, to ſlaye vs.
      • 1639, Thomas Fuller, “The Ecclesiasticall Affairs in this Kings Reigne”, in The Historie of the Holy Warre, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] Thomas Buck, one of the printers to the Universitie of Cambridge [and sold by John Williams, London], →OCLC, book II, page 64:
        VVe left Arnulphus [i.e., Arnulf of Chocques] the laſt Patriarch of Jeruſalem; ſince vvhich time the bad ſavour of his life came to the Popes noſe, vvho ſent a Legate to depoſe him.
      • 1874, Alfred Tennyson, “Gareth and Lynette”, in Idylls of the King (The Works of Alfred Tennyson; V), cabinet edition, London: Henry S. King & Co., […], →OCLC, page 52:
        Then came in hall the messenger of Mark, / A name of evil savour in the land, / The Cornish king.
    5. (uncountable) Enjoyment or taste for something; appreciation; pleasure; relish; (countable) an instance of this.
    6. (uncountable, obsolete) Knowledge; understanding.
      • 1549 February 10 (Gregorian calendar; indicated as 1548), Erasmus, “The Paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the Gospell of Saincte Matthew. Chapter III.”, in Nicolas Udall [i.e., Nicholas Udall], transl., The First Tome or Volume of the Paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the Newe Testamente, London: […] Edwarde Whitchurche, →OCLC, folio xxix, recto:
        [M]any of them were wery of theyr life, beyng very deſyrous of him [Jesus], of whom they had a certayne ſauour and vnderſtandyng (ſimple though it wer:) who ſodenly ſhould renewe all kynde of men, and theyr ſynnes clerely abolyſhed, bryng them vnto the kyngdõ of righteouſneſſe.
      • [1633], George Herbert, “Dialogue”, in [Nicholas Ferrar], editor, The Temple. Sacred Poems, and Private Ejaculations, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] Thomas Buck and Roger Daniel; and are to be sold by Francis Green, […], →OCLC, page 107:
        But as I can ſee no merit; / Leading to this favour: / So the vvay to fit me for it, / Is beyond my ſavour.
Alternative forms[edit]
Derived terms[edit]
Related terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
aroma or smell — see aroma,‎ smell
particular quality, especially a small amount of it — see hint,‎ trace
quality which is appealing or enjoyable — see merit,‎ value
reputation — see reputation
enjoyment or taste for something; an instance of this — see appreciation,‎ pleasure,‎ relish

Etymology 2[edit]

From Middle English savouren, savour,[3] from Anglo-Norman savorer, savourer, Middle French savorer, savourer, and Old French savorer, savourer (modern French savourer), from Late Latin sapōrāre, the present active infinitive of sapōrō (“to give flavour, make tasty; to give pleasure”), from Latin sapor (see etymology 1)[4] + -ō (suffix forming regular first-conjugation verbs).

Verb[edit]

savour (third-person singular simple present savours, present participle savouring, simple past and past participle savoured) (British spelling)

  1. (transitive)
    1. To detect (a flavour or taste, or food or drink); to taste; specifically, to enjoy or linger on (a flavour or taste, or food and drink); to relish.
      He closed his eyes so he could really savour his dessert.
    2. To give (food or drink) flavour; to flavour, to season.
    3. (archaic) To detect (an aroma or smell, especially an appealing one); to smell.
    4. (figurative)
      1. To enjoy (something) deeply or in a lingering manner; to appreciate, to delight in, to relish.
        • 1560, [William Whittingham et al., transl.], The Bible and Holy Scriptures Conteyned in the Olde and Newe Testament. […] (the Geneva Bible), Geneva: […] Rouland Hall, →OCLC, Iob XX:12–14, folio 228, recto, column 2:
          VVhẽ vvickednes vvas ſvvete in his mouthe, & he hid it vnder his tongue, / And ſauoured it, and vvolde not forſake it, but kept it cloſe in his mouth, / Then his meat in his bovvels vvas turned: the gall of aſpes vvas in the middes of hĩ [him].
        • 1959, Günter Grass, “No Wonder”, in Ralph Manheim, transl., The Tin Drum, New York, N.Y.: Pantheon Books, →OCLC, page 138:
          [L]et me savor the sweetness of the name of Jesus as Thou [the Virgin Mary] savoredst it in thy heart, for it is just and meet, right and for our salvation, Queen of Heaven, thrice-blessed …
        • 2020 August 26, Andrew Mourant, “Reinforced against Future Flooding”, in Rail, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire: Bauer Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 58:
          A journey along the Conwy Valley line is one to savour for aficionados of scenic railways.
      2. (chiefly in the negative) To find (something) appealing; to appreciate, to like.
        Synonym: care for
      3. (archaic) To possess (a particular, often negative, quality), especially a small amount of it; to be redolent or suggestive of (something).
        • 1674, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], 2nd edition, London: […] S[amuel] Simmons […], →OCLC, page 282:
          No more be mention'd then of violence / Againſt our ſelves, and vvilful barrenneſs, / That cuts us off from hope, and ſavours onely / Rancor and pride, impatience and deſpite, / Reluctance againſt God and his juſt yoke / Laid on our Necks.
      4. (obsolete) To be appealing to (a person, the senses, etc.).
      5. (obsolete) To experience, perceive, or understand (something).
        • 1602, William Warner, “The Thirteenth Booke. Chapter LXXVII.”, in Albions England. A Continued Historie of the Same Kingdome, from the Originals of the First Inhabitants thereof: […], 5th edition, London: […] Edm[und] Bollifant for George Potter, […], →OCLC, page 317:
          By novv, perhaps, thou ſauoreſts[sic – meaning savorest] ſome Godhead: yeat, is ods. / VVith paſte and preſent times doeſt dreame Pluralitie of Gods. / So did in deed the Monarchies, ſo Miſcreants novv not fevv: / But liſten here vvhat Gods they vvere, and learne them to eſchevv.
        • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 16:23, column 1:
          [H]e [Jesus] turned, and ſaid vnto Peter, Get thee behind mee, Satan, thou sart an offence vnto me: for thou ſauoureſt not the things that be of God, but thoſe that be of men.
      6. (obsolete) To give (something) a particular quality; to imbue with.
      7. (obsolete, rare) To give (something) an aroma or smell.
      8. (obsolete, rare) Followed by out: to detect or find (something).
      9. (obsolete, uncertain) To have a suspicion of (something).
  2. (intransitive)
    1. (archaic) Of a thing: to give off a (specified) aroma or smell.
    2. (archaic or obsolete) Of food or drink: to have a specified (especially appealing) flavour or taste.
      • a. 1634 (date written), Lud. Cornarus [i.e., Luigi Cornaro], “A Treatise of Temperance and Sobrietie”, in George Herbert, transl., Hygiasticon: Or, The Right Course of Preserving Life and Health unto Extream Old Age: […], London: […] Roger Daniel, printer to the Universitie of Cambridge, published 1634, →OCLC, page 8:
        And I propoſed to try, vvhether thoſe [meats] that pleaſed my taſte brought me commoditie or discommoditie; and vvhether that Proverb, That vvhich ſavours, is good and nouriſheth, be conſonant to truth. This upon triall I found moſt falſe: […]
      • 1856, Catius Junior [pseudonym; Elizabeth R. Torrey], “Discourse Interrupted by Phelim, a Jester”, in Theognis: A Lamp in the Cavern of Evil, Boston, Mass.: Wentworth and Company, →OCLC, page 48:
        We will go to the hall, and partake of the food which I ween steameth up and savoreth well of marjoram and thyme.
    3. (figurative)
      1. To possess a particular (often negative) quality, especially a small amount of it; to be redolent or suggestive of.
      2. (archaic) Chiefly followed by a descriptive word like ill or well: to have a specified quality.
        • 1842, Alfred Tennyson, “The Vision of Sin”, in Poems. […], volume II, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 222:
          What is loathsome to the young / Savours well to thee and me.
        • 1888, Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages. […], volume III, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC, pages 368–369:
          Leaping from the tower of Beaurevoir into the ditch and preferring death to falling into the hands of the English, after the Voices had forbidden it.—This was pusillanimity, tending to desperation and suicide; and in saying that God had forgiven it, "thou savorest ill as to human free-will."
          One of the articles of accusation against Joan of Arc.
    4. (obsolete)
      1. To give off a foul smell; to stink.
      2. (figurative) Chiefly followed by to, unto, with, etc.: to be appealing.
Conjugation[edit]
Conjugation of savour
infinitive (to) savour
present tense past tense
1st-person singular savour savoured
2nd-person singular savour, savourest†, savorest† savoured, savouredst†, savoredst†
3rd-person singular savours, savoureth†, savoreth† savoured
plural savour
subjunctive savour savoured
imperative savour —
participles savouring savoured

†Archaic or obsolete.

Alternative forms[edit]
Derived terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
to detect (a flavour or taste, or food or drink) — see taste
to enjoy or linger on (a flavour or taste, or food and drink) — see relish
to give (food or drink) flavour — see flavour,‎ season
to detect (an aroma or smell, especially an appealing one) — see smell
to find (something) appealing — see appreciate,‎ like

References[edit]

  1. ^ “sāvǒur, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
  2. ^ “savour | savor, n.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, March 2024; “savour, n.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
  3. ^ “sāvǒuren, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
  4. ^ “savour | savor, v.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, December 2023; “savour, v.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.

Further reading[edit]

Anagrams[edit]

Middle English[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

Borrowed from Old French savor, savour, from Latin sapor, sapōrem.

Noun[edit]

savour

  1. taste
Descendants[edit]
  • English: savour, savor

Etymology 2[edit]

Noun[edit]

savour

  1. Alternative form of saveour

Old French[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Latin sapor, sapōrem.

Noun[edit]

savour oblique singular, m (oblique plural savours, nominative singular savours, nominative plural savour)

  1. taste

Quotations[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Descendants[edit]

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