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Savory - 8 dictionary results

sa⋅vor⋅y

1[sey-vuh-ree] adjective, -vor⋅i⋅er, -vor⋅i⋅est, noun, plural -vor⋅ies.
–adjective
1. pleasant or agreeable in taste or smell: a savory aroma.
2. piquant: a savory jelly.
3. pleasing, attractive, or agreeable.
–noun
4. British. an aromatic, often spicy course or dish served either as an appetizer or as a dessert, as pickled fish or brandied fruit.
Also, especially British, savoury.


Origin:
1175–1225; ME savori (see savor, -y 1 ); r. ME savure < OF savoure, ptp. of savourer to savor


sa⋅vor⋅i⋅ly, adverb
sa⋅vor⋅i⋅ness, noun


1, 2. See palatable.

sa⋅vor⋅y

2[sey-vuh-ree]
–noun, plural -vor⋅ies.
any of several aromatic herbs belonging to the genus Satureja, of the mint family, esp. S. hortensis (summer savory) or S. montana (winter savory), having narrow leaves used in cookery.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME saverey, perh. for OE sætherie < L saturēia (whence also OE saturege, ME satureie)
sa·vor·y 1   (sā'və-rē)   
adj.  
  1. Appetizing to the taste or smell: a savory stew.
  2. Piquant, pungent, or salty to the taste; not sweet.
  3. Morally respectable; inoffensive: a past that was scarcely savory.
n.   pl. sa·vor·ies
A dish of pungent taste, such as anchovies on toast or pickled fruit, sometimes served in Great Britain as an hors d'oeuvre or instead of a sweet dessert.

[Middle English savure, from Old French savoure, past participle of savourer, to taste, from Late Latin sapōrāre, from Latin sapor, flavor; see savor.]
sa'vor·i·ly adv., sa'vor·i·ness n.
sa·vor·y 2   (sā'və-rē)   
n.   pl. sa·vor·ies
  1. An annual Mediterranean aromatic herb (Satureja hortensis) of the mint family, having flowers with a pale lavender to white corolla. Also called summer savory.
  2. A related Mediterranean aromatic herb (Satureja montana) having flowers in a long, white or pink corolla. Also called winter savory.
  3. The leaves of either of these plants, used as seasoning.
  4. Any of several plants of the genus Micromeria in the mint family.

[Middle English saverey, alteration of Old French sarree, alteration of Latin saturēia.]

Savory

Sa"vor*y\ (-[y^]), a. [From Savor.] Pleasing to the organs of taste or smell. [Written also savoury.]

The chewing flocks Had ta'en their supper on the savory herb. --Milton.

Savory

Sa"vo*ry\ (s[=a]"v[-o]*r[y^]), n. [F. savor['e]e; cf. It. santoreggia, satureja, L. satureia,] (Bot.) An aromatic labiate plant (Satureia hortensis), much used in cooking; -- also called summer savory. [Written also savoury.]

savory  (adj.)
"pleasing in taste or smell," c.1225, from O.Fr. savoure (Fr. savoré), pp. of savourer "to taste" (see savor).

savory  (n.)
"aromatic mint," c.1387, perhaps an alteration of O.E. sæþerie, which is ult. from L. satureia "savory (n.)." But early history of the word suggests transmission via O.Fr. savereie. In either case, the form of the word probably altered by infl. of either the M.E. or O.Fr. form of savory (adj.).
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