rel´ish|ing|ly

rel|ish «REHL ihsh», noun, verb.

–n.

1. a pleasant taste; good flavor: »

Hunger gives relish to simple food.

2. a) something to add flavor to food. Olives, pickles, and peppers are relishes. b) chopped pickles, peppers, and other pickled fruit or vegetables, with slightly sweet seasoning.

3. a slight dash (of something).

4. liking; appetite; enjoyment: »

The hungry boy ate with great relish. Figurative. The teacher has no relish for old jokes. The cheerfulness of the children added a relish to his existence (Jane Austen).

SYNONYM(S): zest.

–v.t.

1. a) to take pleasure or delight in; like the taste of; enjoy: »

A cat relishes cream.

b) Figurative. to care for or be pleased with; appre of or like: »

We did not relish the prospect of staying after school. This doctrine…was not much relished by a great part of the audience (Robert Graves).

2. to give flavor to; make pleasing.

–v.i.

to have a taste: »

It will make everything relish of religion (Jeremy Taylor).

╂[earlier reles < Old French, remainder < relesser, or relaissier; see etym. under release (Cf. ↑release)]

–rel´ish|er, noun.

–rel´ish|ing|ly, adverb.