Word: relish Part of Speech: verb 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. To give (something) (a pleasant) flavour or taste; to make appetizing. Labels: transitive Example: The olde man, which marrieth a yonge Wyfe, is ſure of this ſowre ſauce, to relliſh his ſwete Imaginations: […] Example: And yet as earthly happines herein comes ſhort of heauen, that it is neuer meere and vnmixed, but hath ſome ſovvre ſauce to relliſh it: ſo falleth it as farre ſhort of hell, that not onely hope, but the moſt miſerable hap, hath ſome glimpſe of comfort. 2. To take delight or pleasure in (someone or oneself, or something). Labels: also, figuratively, reflexive, sometimes, transitive Example: He relishes their time together. Example: I don’t relish the idea of going out tonight. 3. To eat or taste (drink, food, etc.). Labels: obsolete, transitive Example: [S]he being not vnprouided of ſtrong poyſon at that inſtant, in the Popes outward chamber ſo mingled it, that when his Grand-ſublimity-taſter came to reliſh it, he ſunke downe ſtark dead on the pauement. Example: Friend? Is there any ſuch fooliſh thing i'the vvorld? ha? S'lid I ne're relliſht it yet. 4. To provide (someone, or their appetite, mouth, stomach, etc.) with something appetizing or tasty. Labels: obsolete, transitive Example: [T]o relliſh the pallat of lickeriſh expectation, and withall to giue an Item how ſudden a ſlabber this ruffianly ſwaggerer (Death) is, […] 5. To appreciate or understand (something). Labels: figuratively, obsolete, transitive Example: Giue me a huſband that vvill fill mine armes, / Of ſteddie iudgement, quicke and nimble ſenſe: / Fooles reliſh not a Ladies excellence. Example: Novv Vlyſſes, I begin to reliſh thy aduiſe, / And I vvill giue a taſte thereof forthvvith, / To Agamemnon, […] 6. To experience (something); also (rare), to feel (something). Labels: figuratively, obsolete, transitive Example: VVe poore commons (vvho taſting vvarre, are made to relliſh nothing but taxes) can do nothing but grieue, to ſee things vnlavvful practiſed, to obtein things impoſſible. Example: Haſt thou (vvhich art but aire) a touch, a feeling / Of their afflictions, and ſhall not my ſelfe, / One of their kinde, that relliſh all as ſharpely, / Paſſion as they, be kindlier mou'd then thou art? 7. To have a particular opinion about (someone or something); to receive, to regard. Labels: figuratively, obsolete, transitive Example: VVhich inſolent ſpeech the Engliſh Biſhops reliſhed ſo harſhly, that they preſently vvith one voyce threatned to accurſe and excommunicate by name the Kings principall vvicked Counſellers; […] Example: One morning, vvhile he vvas bathing in the ſea, his man Clinker took it in his head that his maſter vvas in danger of drovvning; and, in this conceit, plunging into the vvater, he lugged him out naked on the beach, and almoſt pulled off his ear in the operation. You may gueſs hovv this atchievement vvas reliſhed by Mr. Bramble, vvho is impatient, iraſcible, and has the moſt extravagant ideas of decency and decorum in the œconomy of his ovvn perſon— […] 8. To have a tinge or trace of (something). Labels: figuratively, obsolete, transitive Example: This vvas Theatricall vvit, right Stage-jeſting, and reliſhing a Play-houſe, invented for ſcorne, and laughter; […] 9. To provide (someone) with something delightful or pleasant; to delight, to gratify, to please. Labels: figuratively, obsolete, transitive 10. Followed by in: to take delight or pleasure. Labels: figuratively, intransitive 11. To have a particular (specifically, a pleasant) flavour or taste. Labels: intransitive, obsolete Example: [G]ood ſalt cannot relyſh in ſo vnſauory a mouth, […] Example: No more the Bleſſings of a Feaſt / Shall reliſh on the Tongue, / The heavy Ear forgets the Taſte / And Pleaſure of a Song. 12. To have a particular (specifically, a favourable) characteristic or quality. Labels: figuratively, intransitive, obsolete Example: But if any ſhall inquire farther as concerning Thetis, my aunſwere muſt then relliſh after the Oracle at Delphos, that euermore left the certaintie of thinges to vncertaine euentes, and howſoeuer it hapned with or contrarie to expectation, yet ſtill the euent made good the oracle: […] Example: [N]othing can reliſh in their thoughtes that ſauours of ſvveet youth: […] 13. To have a tinge or trace of something. Labels: figuratively, intransitive, obsolete Example: You ſhould not haue beleeu'd me, for vertue cannot ſo e[n]oculat our old ſtock, but vve ſhall reliſh of it, I loued you not. Example: [B]y often praying in ſuch manner and in all circumſtances, vve ſhall habituate our ſouls to prayer, by making it the buſineſs of many leſſer portions of our time: and by thruſting in betvveen all our other imployments, it vvill make every thing reliſh of Religion, and by degrees turn all into its nature. 14. To provide delight or pleasure. Labels: figuratively, intransitive, obsolete