savour
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈseɪvə/
ipa: /ˈseɪvəɹ/
homophone: saver
rhymes: -eɪvə(ɹ)
Forms: form: savours
form: savouring
form: savoured
form: savoured
form: no-table-tags
form: glossary
form: savour
form: savour
form: savoured
form: savour
form: savourest
form: savorest
form: savoured
form: savouredst
form: savoredst
form: savours
form: savoureth
form: savoreth
form: savoured
form: savour
form: savoured
form: savour
form: savoured
form: savour
form: -
form: savouring
form: savoured
form: savor
Etymology: From Middle English savouren, savour, 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) + -ō (suffix forming regular first-conjugation verbs).
Senses: examples: text: He closed his eyes so he could really savour his dessert.
glosses: 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.
examples: text: What Flesh is fitting for Man to Eat, / Until our Herbs do savour the Meat?
ref: 1719, Samuel Wilde, “[The Gard’ners Song.] The Second Part.”, in Thomas d’Urfey, compiler, Songs Compleat, Pleasant and Divertive; […], volume IV, London: […] W. Pearson, for J[acob] Tonson, […], published 19th century, →OCLC, page 221:
text: [S]alt they had none; the ashes of a species of palm was their substitute, and this could only be used for savouring food, not for curing it.
ref: 1810, Robert Southey, chapter XVIII, in History of Brazil, 1st part, London: […] [William Pople] for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […], →OCLC, pages 616–617:
text: [S]oups they served of many sorts, seasoned most choicely, / in double helpings, as was due, and divers sorts of fish; / some baked in bread, some broiled on the coals, / some seethed, some in gravy savoured with spices, / and all with condiments so cunning that it caused him delight.
ref: 1975, “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”, in J[ohn] R[onald] R[euel] Tolkien, transl., Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and Sir Orfeo, 1st American edition, Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin Company, →ISBN, stanza 37, page 47:
glosses: To give (food or drink) flavour; to flavour, to season.
examples: text: VViſedome and goodnes, to the vild ſeeme vild, / Filths ſauor but themſelues, vvhat haue you done?
ref: c. 1603–1606 (date written), [William Shakespeare], […] His True Chronicle Historie of the Life and Death of King Lear and His Three Daughters. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Nathaniel Butter, […], published 1608, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii], signature H3, verso:
glosses: To detect (an aroma or smell, especially an appealing one); to smell.
examples: text: 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].
ref: 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:
text: [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 . . .
ref: 1959, Günter Grass, “No Wonder”, in Ralph Manheim, transl., The Tin Drum, New York, N.Y.: Pantheon Books, →OCLC, page 138:
text: A journey along the Conwy Valley line is one to savour for aficionados of scenic railways.
ref: 2020 August 26, Andrew Mourant, “Reinforced against Future Flooding”, in Rail, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire: Bauer Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 58:
glosses: To enjoy (something) deeply or in a lingering manner; to appreciate, to delight in, to relish.
examples: text: The man that coueteth gold, conceiueth not goodneſſe, his appetite is of the earth, and thoſe that are earthly minded, ſauour not the things that are of God.
ref: 1584, Thomas Lodge, An Alarum against Usurers. […], London: […] T[homas] Este, for Sampson Clarke, […], →OCLC, folio 19, recto:
text: Here, ſtalkes me by a proud, and ſpangled ſir, / That lookes three hand-fuls higher then his fore-top; / Sauours himſelfe alone, is onely kind / And louing to himſelfe: […]
ref: 1600 (first performance), Beniamin Ionson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Cynthias Reuels, or The Fountayne of Selfe-Loue. […]”, in The Workes of Beniamin Ionson (First Folio), London: […] Will[iam] Stansby, published 1616, →OCLC, Act III, scene iiii, page 211:
text: Beauteous Penthea […] is novv ſo yoak'd / To a moſt barbarous thraldome, miſery, / Affliction, that [s]he ſauors not humanity.
ref: c. 1625–1632 (date written), Iohn Ford [i.e., John Ford], The Broken Heart. A Tragedy. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Hugh Beeston, […], published 1633, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, signatures B, verso – B2, recto:
text: The man that met thee, is one Worldly-Wiſeman, and rightly is he ſo called; / partly, becauſe he ſavoureth only the / Doctrine of this world […]
ref: 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 as Originally Published by John Bunyan: Being a Fac-simile Reproduction of the First Edition, London: Elliot Stock […], 1875, →OCLC, page 27:
synonyms: care for
glosses: To find (something) appealing; to appreciate, to like.
raw_tags: in the negative
examples: text: 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.
ref: 1674, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], 2nd edition, London: […] S[amuel] Simmons […], →OCLC, page 282:
glosses: To possess (a particular, often negative, quality), especially a small amount of it; to be redolent or suggestive of (something).
glosses: To be appealing to (a person, the senses, etc.).
examples: text: 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.
ref: 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:
text: [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.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 16:23, column 1:
glosses: To experience, perceive, or understand (something).
examples: text: So theſe olde huddles hauing ouercharged their gorges with fancie, accompte all honeſt recreation méere follly,^([sic]) and hauinge taken a ſurfet of delyght, ſéeme now to ſauor it with deſpight.
ref: [1578], Iohn Lylly [i.e., John Lyly], “Euphues”, in Euphues. The Anatomy of Wyt. […], London: […] [Thomas East] for Gabriell Cawood, […], →OCLC, folio 7, recto:
glosses: To give (something) a particular quality; to imbue with.
glosses: To give (something) an aroma or smell.
glosses: Followed by out: to detect or find (something).
examples: text: Siſter, I ſee you ſauour of my vviles, / Be it as you vvill haue for this once, […]
ref: 1594, Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Nash[e], The Tragedie of Dido Queene of Carthage: […], London: […] Widdowe Orwin, for Thomas Woodcocke, […], →OCLC, Act III, signature D2, verso:
qualifier: uncertain
glosses: To have a suspicion of (something).
examples: text: [T]he ſaffrone bagge that hath bene full of ſaffron, or hath had ſaffron in it, doth euer after ſauoure and ſmel of the ſwete ſaffron that it conteyned: […]
ref: 1548 January 28 (date delivered), Hughe Latemer [i.e., Hugh Latimer], A Notable Sermõ of yͤ Reuerende Father Maister Hughe Latemer, whiche He Preached in yͤ Shrouds at Paules Churche in Londõ, on the .XVIII. Daye of January. 1548, London: […] Jhon Daye, […], and William Seres, […], published 1548, →OCLC, signature A.iiii., recto:
text: [I]t [Parthenium] bringeth forth a vvhite floure, ſavouring like an apple, and having a bitter taſt.
ref: 1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “[Book XXI.] Of Parthenium, and the Medicinable Vertues that It hath.”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the World. Commonly Called, The Naturall Historie of C. Plinius Secundus. […], 2nd tome, London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC, page 111:
text: The spilt blood savoured horribly, / Heart-breaking the dumb writhings were, / Unuttered curses filled the air; […]
ref: 1870, William Morris, “January: The Ring Given to Venus”, in The Earthly Paradise: A Poem, part IV, London: F[rederick] S[tartridge] Ellis, […], →OCLC, page 218:
glosses: Of a thing: to give off a (specified) aroma or smell.
examples: text: And I purpoſed 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: […]
ref: a. 1634 (date written), Lud[ovicus] 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:
text: We will go to the hall, and partake of the food which I ween steameth up and savoreth well of marjoram and thyme.
ref: 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:
glosses: Of food or drink: to have a specified (especially appealing) flavour or taste.
examples: text: Ol[ivia]. […] Fetch Maluolio hither, / And yet alas, novv I remember me, / They ſay poore Gentleman, he's much diſtract. […] Did he vvrite this? / Clo[wn]. I [aye] Madame. / Du[ke Orsino]. This ſauours not much of diſtraction.
ref: c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], page 274, column 2:
text: In ſuch a ſeaſon, vvhen the Idle Humerous vvorld muſt heare of nothing, that either ſauors of Antiquity, or may avvake it to ſeeke after more, then dull and ſlothfull ignorance may eaſily reach vnto: […]
ref: 1612, Michael Drayton, “To the Generall Reader”, in [John Selden], editor, Poly-Olbion. Or A Chorographicall Description of Tracts, Riuers, Mountaines, Forests, and Other Parts of this Renowned Isle of Great Britaine, […], London: […] [Humphrey Lownes] for M[athew] Lownes; I[ohn] Browne; I[ohn] Helme; I[ohn] Busbie, →OCLC, signature A, recto:
text: In general I vvill only ſay, that I have vvritten nothing vvhich ſavours of Immorality or Profaneneſs; at leaſt, I am not conſcious to my ſelf of any ſuch Intention.
ref: 1700, [John] Dryden, “Preface”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, signature [A2], recto:
text: But, notwithstanding I have rejected every thing that savours of party, every thing that is loose and immoral, and every thing that might create uneasiness in the minds of particular persons, I find that the demand of my papers has increased every month since their first appearance in the world.
ref: 1712 January 11 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “MONDAY, December 31, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 262; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume III, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 304:
text: [S]uch Solicitations from Superiors alvvays ſavour very ſtrongly of Commands.
ref: 1749, Henry Fielding, “The Hospitality of Allworthy; with a Short Sketch of the Characters of Two Brothers, a Doctor, and a Captain, who were Entertained by that Gentleman”, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume I, London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book I, page 53:
text: Be gone, thou impudent VVretch, to Hell, thy proper Place: thou art a Deſpiſer of my glorious Majeſty, and your Frame of Spirit ſavours of Blaſphemy.
ref: 1750, Joseph Bellamy, “Discourse I. Shewing the Nature of the Divine Law, and wherein Consists a Real Conformity to It.”, in True Religion Delineated; or, Experimental Religion, […], Boston, Mass.: […] S. Kneeland, […], →OCLC, section II (Shewing from what Motives True Love to God Takes Its Rise), pages 53–54:
text: But the inſtitutions ſavour of ſuperſtition in their very principle; and they nouriſh it by a permanent and ſtanding influence.
ref: 1790 November, Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France, and on the Proceedings in Certain Societies in London Relative to that Event. […], London: […] J[ames] Dodsley, […], →OCLC, page 234:
text: This conquest of the Moor savoureth of a fulfilment of time, and his reign of seven centuries terminated, may merely be an opening for a more glorious future.
ref: 1840, [James Fenimore Cooper], chapter VIII, in Mercedes of Castile: Or, The Voyage to Cathay. […], volume I, Philadelphia, Pa.: Lea and Blanchard, →OCLC, page 131:
text: An explanation of life phenomena that savors of the laboratory and chemism repels me, and an explanation that savors of the theological point of view is equally distasteful to me. I crave and seek a natural explanation of all phenomena upon this earth, but the word "natural" to me implies more than mere chemistry and physics.
ref: 1915 May, John Burroughs, “Preface”, in The Breath of Life, Boston, Mass.; New York, N.Y.: Houghton Mifflin Company […], →OCLC, pages vi–vii:
glosses: To possess a particular (often negative) quality, especially a small amount of it; to be redolent or suggestive of.
examples: text: What is loathsome to the young / Savours well to thee and me.
ref: 1842, Alfred Tennyson, “The Vision of Sin”, in Poems. […], volume II, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 222:
text: 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."
ref: 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:
glosses: Chiefly followed by a descriptive word like ill or well: to have a specified quality.
glosses: To give off a foul smell; to stink.
glosses: Chiefly followed by to, unto, with, etc.: to be appealing.
Derived terms: word: missavour
word: outsavour
alt: savorable
word: savourable
english: savored
translation: savored
word: savoured
alt: savorer
word: savourer
english: savoring
translation: savoring
word: savouring
word: savour of
word: unsavour