savour etymology

Etymology

  • Old French: savor
  • Latin: sapor "taste, flavor"
  • Proto-Indo-European: *spṓ- "to taste, spit"

Meaning

  • To enjoy the taste of something fully and leisurely
  • To appreciate or enjoy something to the utmost
  • To relish

Origin

The word "savour" entered the English language in the 13th century from Old French. The Old French word "savor" is derived from the Latin noun "sapor," which means "taste" or "flavor." Ultimately, the word "sapor" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *spṓ-, which means "to taste" or "to spit." This root is also the origin of the English words "spit," "spew," and "spoil."

Historical Usage

The word "savour" has been used in the English language for centuries, and its meaning has remained largely consistent. In the 14th century, the poet John Gower used the word in his poem "Confessio Amantis" to describe the pleasure of eating a good meal:

"And so he sat and sauoured his repaste."

In the 16th century, the playwright William Shakespeare used the word in his play "Hamlet" to describe the pleasure of listening to music:

"The man that hath not music in himself, \ Nor is not mov'd with concord of sweet sounds, \ Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils."

The word "savour" is still used today to describe the pleasure of enjoying something with one's senses. It can be used to describe the taste of food, the smell of flowers, the sound of music, or the beauty of a work of art.

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