I. noun
also sa·vour ˈsāvə(r)
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English savor, saver, savour, from Old French savor, savour, from Latin sapor; akin to Latin sapere to taste, have good taste — more at sage
1.
a. : a quality of something that affects the sense of taste or smell
if the salt have lost his savor , wherewith shall it be salted — Mt 5:13 (Authorized Version)
rosemary and rue; these keep seeming and savor all the winter long — Shakespeare
b. : a particular flavor or smell
described the savor of the durian as a rich butterlike custard, highly flavored with almonds — V.G.Heiser
a kettle from which issued the savor of cooking mutton fat — Willa Cather
c. : a distinctive quality
an odd blend of bitter naturalism and quiet humor that gives it a savor quite its own — Anthony Boucher
contributed their share to the savor of local life — American Guide Series: Delaware
d. : a qualifying flavor : smack , tinge
refreshing our minds with a savor of the antique, primeval world — Laurence Binyon
2. : a taste for something : relish
lost his savor for food — Rex Ingamells
3.
a. : power to affect the sense of taste or smell
in his illness, food and drink lost their savor for him
b. : power to arouse interest or zest
times change, and the sprightliest wit may lose its savor — V.L.Parrington
4. archaic : reputation , repute
5. obsolete : character , sort
this admiration … is much o' the savor of other your new pranks — Shakespeare
Synonyms: see taste
II. verb
also savour “
( savored also savoured ; savored also savoured ; savoring also savouring -v(ə)riŋ ; savors also savours )
Etymology: Middle English savowren, from Old French savourer, savorer, from Late Latin saporare, from Latin sapor savor
intransitive verb
1. archaic : to be agreeable
what is loathsome to the young savors well to thee and me — Alfred Tennyson
2. : to have a specified smell or to smell of a specified substance
the very doors and windows savor vilely — Shakespeare
the solemn vestments, savoring of naphthalene — Norman Douglas
3. : to partake of a quality or state : indicate a presence or influence : smack — used with of
the argument savors of cynicism — V.L.Parrington
an intense dislike of anything savoring of regimentation — Chilton Williamson
transitive verb
1.
a. : to give a salt taste to
the salt that savors the sea — F.K.Lane
b. : to give flavor to : season
the salt of danger savoring nights and days — Atlantic
2.
a. : to have experience of : taste
once before, he had savored politics — Ellery Sedgwick
b. archaic : to be conscious of the odor of : smell
wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile, filths savor but themselves — Shakespeare
c. : to taste or smell with pleasure : relish
savoring the succulent watermelon — Jane Nickerson
walk around … savoring the wild roses — Ann Panners
d. : to take conscious pleasure in : appreciate or enjoy with deliberate awareness
this is a book to savor on leisurely summer days — Pamela Taylor
he decided to hold it back and thus savor a little longer the pleasure of the surprise — T.B.Costain
3. archaic : to care for : like
thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men — Mt 16:23 (Authorized Version)