relished

Verb

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

1. (transitive) To give (something) (a pleasant) flavour or taste; to make appetizing.
   • The olde man, which marrieth a yonge Wyfe, is ſure of this ſowre ſauce, to relliſh his ſwete Imaginations: […]1582 February 13 (Gregorian calendar), George Whetstone, “The Syxt Dayes Exercise, Contayninge: Many Needefull Regardes, for a Gentleman: With a Discouerie of the Inconueniences of Marriages, where...
2. (also, figuratively, reflexive, sometimes, transitive) To take delight or pleasure in (someone or oneself, or something).
   • He relishes their time together.

   Synonyms:

   appreciate, delight in, enjoy, like, revel in

3. (obsolete, transitive) To eat or taste (drink, food, etc.).
   • [S]he being not vnprouided of ſtrong poyſon at that inſtant, in the Popes outward chamber ſo mingled it, that when his Grand-ſublimity-taſter came to reliſh it, he ſunke downe ſtark dead on the pauement.1594, Tho[mas] Nashe, “The Vnfortunate Traueller”, in The Vnfortunate Traueller. Or, The Life of Iacke Wilton, London: […] T. Scarlet for C[uthbert] Burby, […], →OCLC
4. (obsolete, transitive) To provide (someone, or their appetite, mouth, stomach, etc.) with something appetizing or tasty.
   • [T]o relliſh the pallat of lickeriſh expectation, and withall to giue an Item how ſudden a ſlabber this ruffianly ſwaggerer (Death) is, […]1603, [Thomas Dekker], 1603. The Wonderfull Yeare. […], London: […] by [J. Browne, Nicholas Ling, and John Smethwick for?] Thomas Creede, […], →OCLC, signature D3, verso
5. (figuratively, obsolete, transitive) To appreciate or understand (something).
   • Giue me a huſband that vvill fill mine armes, / Of ſteddie iudgement, quicke and nimble ſenſe: / Fooles reliſh not a Ladies excellence.c. 1599 (date written), I. M. [i.e., John Marston], The History of Antonio and Mellida. The First Part. […], London: […] [Richard Bradock] for Mathewe Lownes, and Thomas Fisher, […], published 1602...
6. (figuratively, obsolete, transitive) To experience (something); also (rare), to feel (something).
   • VVe poore commons (vvho taſting vvarre, are made to relliſh nothing but taxes) can do nothing but grieue, to ſee things vnlavvful practiſed, to obtein things impoſſible.1590 January 16 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), [John Lyly], Midas. […], London: […] Thomas Scarlet for I[oan] B[roome] […], published 1592, →OCLC, Act IV, scene ii, signature E3, verso

See all 31 meanings of relish