Word: relish Part of Speech: noun Etymology: The noun is a variant of release (“(obsolete) odour, scent”), from Middle English reles, relese (“odour, scent; taste; efficacy, power”), probably from Anglo-Norman reles, relais, or Old French reles, relais (“that which is left behind, remainder, residue”), from relaisser, relaschier (“to liberate, release; to relax”) (modern French relâcher), from Latin relaxāre, the present active infinitive of relaxō (“to stretch out or widen again, loosen, slacken; (figurative) to ease, relax”), from re- (prefix meaning ‘again; back, backwards’) + laxō (“to release, undo; to relax”) (from laxus (“spacious, wide; loose, slack”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)leg- (“to slacken; to tire out”)) + -ō (suffix forming regular first-conjugation verbs)). Doublet of release. The verb is derived from the noun. Pronunciation: /ˈɹɛlɪʃ/, [ˈɹælɪʃ], /ˈɹelɪʃ/, /ˈɹeləʃ/, /ˈɾɛlɪʃ/ 1. Flavour or taste; (countable) an instance of this. Labels: obsolete, uncountable Example: Much pleasure we have lost while we abstained / From this delightful fruit, nor known till now / True relish, tasting. Example: The Caſe is the ſame if the Object, proper for exciting any Senſation, has never been apply'd to the Organ. A Laplander or Negro has no Notion of the reliſh of VVine. 2. Followed by for: one's liking or taste for something; a fondness. Labels: countable, figuratively, obsolete Example: I have a relish for moderate praise, because it bids fair to be judicious. Example: One of the first acts which he was under the necessity of performing must have been painful to a man of so generous a nature, and of so keen a relish for whatever was excellent in arts and letters. 3. A small amount; a tinge, a trace. Labels: countable, figuratively, obsolete 4. Ability to taste or (figurative) enjoy. Labels: figuratively, obsolete, uncountable 5. Particular quality; (countable) an instance of this; a characteristic or quality. Labels: figuratively, obsolete, uncountable Example: [T]hat Air of piety to the Gods ſhould ſhine thro' the Poem, vvhich ſo viſibly appears in all the vvorks of antiquity: And it ought to preſerve ſome reliſh of the old vvay of vvriting; the connections ſhould be looeſ, the narrations and decſriptions ſhort, and the periods conciſe. 6. Enjoyment of flavour or taste; (countable) an instance of this. Labels: broadly, uncountable 7. Enjoyment of something pleasant; (countable) an instance of this. Labels: broadly, figuratively, uncountable Example: Jews and Israel are not synonymous; nor is support for Palestine synonymous with anti-Semitism; nor is questioning the orthodoxy of the Republican party, which the majority of us do with relish, an insult to Jewry. 8. Appetizing or pleasant flavour or taste; (countable) an instance of this. Labels: archaic, broadly, uncountable 9. Pleasant quality; (countable) an instance of this. Labels: archaic, broadly, figuratively, uncountable Example: When liberty is gone, / Life grows insipid, and has lost its relish. 10. A savoury dish or course of dishes, especially one accompanying rather than forming the main part of a meal; an appetizer, a side dish. Labels: broadly, countable 11. A savoury dish or course of dishes, especially one accompanying rather than forming the main part of a meal; an appetizer, a side dish. Labels: broadly, countable, figuratively, uncountable 12. A condiment or sauce added to food for a spicy or tangy flavour; specifically, one made with chopped, pickled fruit or vegetables. Labels: broadly, countable, uncountable Example: Congressmen gleefully wolfed down every imaginable version of the hot dog – smoked kielbasas, jumbo grillers, Big & Juicy's, kosher dogs and spiced dogs – topped with every imaginable condiment – hot mustard, sweet mustard, jalapenos, spaghetti sauce, regular relish, corn relish, maple syrup salsa and the secret sauce of Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.). ("If I told you the recipe," an aide explained, "I'd have to shoot you.")