savor

[sey-ver]

See more synonyms for savor on Thesaurus.com

noun

the quality in a substance that affects the sense of taste or of smell.
a particular taste or smell.
distinctive quality or property.

power to excite or interest.
Archaic. repute.

verb (used without object)

to have savor, taste, or odor.
to exhibit the peculiar characteristics; smack (often followed by of): His business practices savor of greed.

verb (used with object)

to give a savor to; season; flavor.
to perceive by taste or smell, especially with relish: to savor the garden's odors.
to give oneself to the enjoyment of: to savor the best in life.

Also especially British, sa·vour.

Origin of savor

1175–1225; (noun) Middle English sav(o)ur < Old French savour < Latin sapōrem, accusative of sapor taste, derivative of sapere to taste (cf. sapient); (v.) Middle English sav(o)uren < Old French savourer < Late Latin sapōrāre, derivative of sapor

Related formssa·vor·er, nounsa·vor·ing·ly, adverbsa·vor·less, adjectivesa·vor·ous, adjectiveout·sa·vor, verb (used with object)un·sa·vored, adjective

Can be confusedsavior savor savory

Synonyms

See more synonyms for savor on Thesaurus.com

1. relish, smack; odor, scent, fragrance. See taste.

Usage note

See -or¹.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for savored

Contemporary Examples

That experience needs to be savored, and not spoiled, so this is the one show you absolutely, positively must watch live.
‘Breaking Bad’ Finale, ‘Homeland’ Premiere: How to Survive DVRmageddon
Jason Lynch
September 29, 2013
Death may be inescapable, but life is still a tender thing to be savored.
Must Read Fiction: ‘Prague Fatale,’ ‘Derby Day’ and More
Malcolm Forbes, Hillary Kelly, Mythili Rao
May 9, 2012

Historical Examples

But something had happened to K. that savored of the marvelous.
K
Mary Roberts Rinehart
Since the world began, freedom has been at war with all that savored of servitude.
Masterpieces of Negro Eloquence
Various
These were words which savored of kingly authority and which were odious to the people.
Union and Democracy
Allen Johnson
The whole affair from the beginning has savored of the devils mixing.
Ainslee's, Vol. 15, No. 6, July 1905
Various
She was a proud woman, and hated favors that savored of cash.
Ainslee's, Vol. 15, No. 5, June 1905
Various

Word Origin and History for savored

savor

n.

mid-13c., from Old French savor "flavor, taste; sauce, seasoning; delight, pleasure," from Latin saporem (nominative sapor) "taste, flavor," related to sapere "to have a flavor" (see sapient).

savor

v.

c.1300, from Old French savorer "taste, breathe in; appreciate, care for," from Late Latin saporare, from Latin sapor (see savor (n.)). Related: Savored; savoring.

savor

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Synonyms

Usage note

Examples from the Web for savored

Contemporary Examples

That experience needs to be savored, and not spoiled, so this is the one show you absolutely, positively must watch live.

Death may be inescapable, but life is still a tender thing to be savored.

Historical Examples

But something had happened to K. that savored of the marvelous.

Since the world began, freedom has been at war with all that savored of servitude.

These were words which savored of kingly authority and which were odious to the people.

The whole affair from the beginning has savored of the devils mixing.

She was a proud woman, and hated favors that savored of cash.

Word Origin and History for savored

savor

n.

savor

v.

Origin of savor