I. ˈrelish, -lēsh noun
( -es )
Etymology: alteration of Middle English reles taste, aftertaste, odor, scent, from Old French reles, relais something left behind, release — more at release
1. : characteristic flavor ; especially : pleasing or zestful flavor : tang , savor
now I have better things to write of — things that have some relish of good in them — Irving Bacheller
2. : a quantity just sufficient to flavor or characterize : trace , dash
your lordship … hath yet some smack of age in you … some relish of the saltness of time — Shakespeare
3. obsolete : power to discern and appreciate ; often : personal taste : liking
4.
a. : enjoyment of or delight in something that satisfies one's tastes, inclinations, desires : gratification
men have a keener relish for privileges and honors than for equality — Réne Sédillot
with the relish of a child digging into a dish of ice cream
b. : appetite , stomach , inclination
a studious boy with little relish for sports
5.
a. : something served to add a zestful flavor to a plain dish : condiment
horseradish sauce is a favorite relish with boiled beef
especially : a savory pickled or preserved food prepared from mixed chopped vegetables or fruits and usually served with meat
corn relish
beet relish
pickle relish
b. : appetizer , hors d'oeuvre
Synonyms: see taste
II. “, esp in pres part -ləsh verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
transitive verb
1. : to add a relish, flavor, or zest to : serve as a condiment to
a savory bit that served to relish wine — John Dryden
2. : to be pleased or gratified by : approve of : enjoy
relished the relaxed attentiveness and technical aplomb of the instrumentalists — Herbert Weinstock
could not expect them to relish the prospect of a cut in salary
3.
a. : to eat or drink with pleasure : like the taste of
so hungry that he will relish plain food
b. : to delight in : take keen pleasure in
bargains … with a fruit vendor, both of them laughing and relishing the process and each other — Roger Angell
4. : to appreciate with taste and discernment
a people trained by oratory to relish virtuosity of speech — H.M.Reynolds
relishes literature with his palate as well as with his brain — Henri Peyre
5. obsolete : to have a savor or suggestion of : smack of
intransitive verb
: to have a characteristic or pleasing taste
find ways in which the soldiers' food could be made more relishing — Current Biography
his style relishes perhaps too much of the schoolroom
Synonyms: see like
III. noun
( -es )
Etymology: perhaps from relish (I)
: a grace or embellishment in early English music
IV. transitive verb
obsolete : to sing with embellishments : warble
relish a love song, like a robin redbreast — Shakespeare
V. noun
( -es )
Etymology: French relais
: the projection or shoulder at the side of or around a tenon — compare mortise
VI. transitive verb
: to cut or shape the shoulder on (a tenon)