Join free

Savory

AI In plain words

Writing a short explanation…

Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.

savory¹

  • /ˈseɪ.və.ɹi/ Canada, US, UK
  • /ˈseɪv.ɹi/ Canada, US, UK

Rhymes with -eɪvəɹi, -eɪvɹi

Where it comes from

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *sep-

Proto-Italic *sapjō

Latin sapiō

Proto-Indo-European *-os

Proto-Indo-European *-s

Proto-Indo-European *-ōs

Proto-Italic *-ōs

Latin -or

Latin sapōrem

Old French savour

Old French savouréder.

Middle English savourie

Middle English savory

English savory

From the Middle English savory, savourie, from Old French savouré, from Old French savourer, from Late Latin sapōrāre, from Latin sapor (“taste, flavour”), from sapiō, sapere (“taste of, have a flavour of”).

adjective savorier · savoriest · savoury

  1. US Tasty, attractive to the palate. The fine restaurant presented an array of savory dishes; each was delicious.
  2. US Either salty or spicy, but not sweet. The mushrooms, meat, bread, rice, peanuts and potatoes were all good savory foods.
  3. US Umami. The savory rabbit soup contrasted well with the sweet cucumber sandwiches with jam.
  4. US, figuratively Morally or ethically acceptable. Readers are to be warned that quotations in this chapter contain some not so savory language.

noun savories · savoury

  1. US A savory snack. On Friday the pastry chef Pichet Ong will open his own cafe, with sweets and savories served at tables and a counter.

savory²

  • /ˈseɪ.və.ɹi/ Canada, US, UK
  • /ˈseɪv.ɹi/ Canada, US, UK

Rhymes with -eɪvəɹi, -eɪvɹi

Where it comes from

Etymology tree

Latin satureiader.

Old French savereieinflu.?

Old English sæþerieder.?

Middle English saverey

English savory

From Middle English saverey, possibly from Old English sæþerie, from Latin satureia, influenced by or via Old French savereie.

noun savories · savoury

  1. US, countable, uncountable Any of several Mediterranean herbs, of the genus Satureja, grown as culinary flavourings. There are some who advise taking the noxious herb savory; in my judgment it is poison.
  2. US, countable, uncountable The leaves of these plants used as a flavouring.

Savory³

proper noun Savorys

  1. A surname.

Talk about this word