relish

Alteration of reles (“scent, taste, aftertaste”), from Old French relais, reles (“something remaining, that which is left behind”), from relaisser (“to leave behind”).

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ˈɹɛ.lɪʃ/

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relish (countable and uncountable, plural relishes)

1. A pleasing taste; flavor that gratifies the palate; hence, enjoyable quality; power of pleasing.
   • 1748. David Hume. Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral. London: Oxford University Press, 1973. § 12.

     A Laplander or Negro has no notion of the relish of wine.

   • 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. A Poem Written in Ten Books, London: Printed [by Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […] [a]nd by Robert Boulter […] [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], OCLC 228722708; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: The Text Exactly Reproduced from the First Edition of 1667: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, OCLC 230729554:

     Much pleasure we have lost while we abstained / From this delightful fruit, nor known till now / True relish, tasting.

   • (Can we date this quote by Addison?)

     When liberty is gone, / Life grows insipid, and has lost its relish.

2. Savor; quality; characteristic tinge.
   • (Can we date this quote by Alexander Pope?)

     It preserves some relish of old writing.

3. A taste for; liking; appetite; fondness.
   • 1849, Thomas Macaulay, History of England, Chapter 11:

     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.

   • (Can we date this quote by Cowper?)

     I have a relish for moderate praise, because it bids fair to be judicious.

4. A cooked or pickled sauce, usually made with vegetables or fruits, generally used as a condiment.
   • 1994 July 21, Faye Fiore, “Congress relishes another franking privilege: Meat lobby puts on the dog with exclusive luncheon for lawmakers – experts on pork”, in Los Angeles Times‎:

     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.")

5. In a wooden frame, the projection or shoulder at the side of, or around, a tenon, on a tenoned piece.
6. Something that is greatly liked or savoured.

• See also Thesaurus:seasoning

• India relish

relish (third-person singular simple present relishes, present participle relishing, simple past and past participle relished)

1. (transitive) To taste or eat with pleasure, to like the flavor of [from 16th c.]
2. (transitive) to take great pleasure in.

   He relishes their time together.

   I don't relish the idea of going out tonight.

   • Shakespeare

     Now I begin to relish thy advice.

   • Atterbury

     He knows how to prize his advantages, and to relish the honours which he enjoys.

3. (obsolete, intransitive) To taste; to have a specified taste or flavour. [16th-19th c.]
   • 1621, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy, Oxford: Printed by Iohn Lichfield and Iames Short, for Henry Cripps, OCLC 216894069; The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd corrected and augmented edition, Oxford: Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, 1624, OCLC 54573970, partition II, section 3, member 3:

     honourable enterprises are accompanied with dangers and damages, as experience evinceth; they will make the rest of thy life relish the better.

   • Shakespeare

     Had I been the finder-out of this secret, it would not have relished among my other discredits.

   • Woodward

     A theory, which, how much soever it may relish of wit and invention, hath no foundation in nature.

4. (transitive) To give a relish to; to cause to taste agreeable, to make appetizing. [from 16th c.]
   • Dryden

     a sav'ry bit that served to relish wine

• appreciate
• delight in
• enjoy
• like
• revel

• disrelish
• relishable
• relisher

• Hilers, Riehls, Rishel, hirsel

From English relish.

• IPA^(key): /ʁe.liʃ/

relish f (uncountable)

1. relish (pickled sauce)