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relish

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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WOTD – 23 November 2025

Pronunciation

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A hot dog with green relish (etymology 1, noun etymology 1, noun sense 2.4) made from pickles.

Etymology 1

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The noun is a variant of release (“(obsolete) odour, scent”), from Middle English reles, relese (“odour, scent; taste; efficacy, power”),[1][2] probably from Anglo-Norman reles, relais, or Old French reles, relais (“that which is left behind, remainder, residue”),[3] from relaisser, relaschier (“to liberate, release; to relax”) (modern French relâcher),[4] from Latin relaxāre, the present active infinitive of relaxō (“to stretch out or widen again, loosen, slacken; (figurative) to ease, relax”), from re- (prefix meaning ‘again; back, backwards’) + laxō (“to release, undo; to relax”) (from laxus (“spacious, wide; loose, slack”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)leg- (“to slacken; to tire out”)) + -ō (suffix forming regular first-conjugation verbs)). Doublet of release.

The verb is derived from the noun.[5]

Noun

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relish (countable and uncountable, plural relishes)

  1. (obsolete)
    1. (uncountable) Flavour or taste; (countable) an instance of this.
      • 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
        Much pleasure we have lost while we abstained / From this delightful fruit, nor known till now / True relish, tasting.
      • 1748, [David Hume], “Essay II. Of the Origin of Ideas.”, in Philosophical Essays Concerning Human Understanding, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, page 25:
        The Caſe is the ſame if the Object, proper for exciting any Senſation, has never been apply'd to the Organ. A Laplander or Negro has no Notion of the reliſh of VVine.
    2. (figurative)
      1. (countable) Followed by for: one's liking or taste for something; a fondness.
      2. (countable) A small amount; a tinge, a trace.
        Synonyms: see Thesaurus:modicum
        Antonyms: see Thesaurus:lot
      3. (uncountable) Ability to taste or (figurative) enjoy.
      4. (uncountable) Particular quality; (countable) an instance of this; a characteristic or quality.
        • 1717, Alexander Pope, “A Discourse on Pastoral Poetry”, in The Works of Mr. Alexander Pope, volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintot, […], →OCLC, page 5:
          [T]hat Air of piety to the Gods ſhould ſhine thro' the Poem, vvhich ſo viſibly appears in all the vvorks of antiquity: And it ought to preſerve ſome reliſh of the old vvay of vvriting; the connections ſhould be looeſ, the narrations and decſriptions ſhort, and the periods conciſe.
  2. (by extension)
    1. (chiefly in the negative)
      1. (uncountable) Enjoyment of flavour or taste; (countable) an instance of this.
      2. (figurative, uncountable) Enjoyment of something pleasant; (countable) an instance of this.
        • 2019 July 17, Talia Lavin, “When Non-Jews Wield Anti-Semitism as Political Shield”, in GQ‎[1]:
          Jews and Israel are not synonymous; nor is support for Palestine synonymous with anti-Semitism; nor is questioning the orthodoxy of the Republican party, which the majority of us do with relish, an insult to Jewry.
    2. (archaic, chiefly in the negative)
      1. (uncountable) Appetizing or pleasant flavour or taste; (countable) an instance of this.
      2. (figurative, uncountable) Pleasant quality; (countable) an instance of this.
    3. (countable) A savoury dish or course of dishes, especially one accompanying rather than forming the main part of a meal; an appetizer, a side dish.
      1. (figurative) A characteristic or quality which accompanies another thing.
    5. (countable, uncountable, originally US) A condiment or sauce added to food for a spicy or tangy flavour; specifically, one made with chopped, pickled fruit or vegetables.
      Hyponyms: Chicago-style relish; Gentleman's Relish; Indian relish, India relish; see also Thesaurus:seasoning
      • 1994 July 21, Faye Fiore, “Congress relishes another franking privilege: Meat lobby puts on the dog with exclusive luncheon for lawmakers – experts on pork”, in Los Angeles Times‎[2]:
        Congressmen gleefully wolfed down every imaginable version of the hot dog – smoked kielbasas, jumbo grillers, Big & Juicy's, kosher dogs and spiced dogs – topped with every imaginable condiment – hot mustard, sweet mustard, jalapenos, spaghetti sauce, regular relish, corn relish, maple syrup salsa and the secret sauce of Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.). ("If I told you the recipe," an aide explained, "I'd have to shoot you.")
Alternative forms
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Derived terms
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Translations
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Verb

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

  1. (transitive)
    1. To give (something) (a pleasant) flavour or taste; to make appetizing. [from 16th c.]
      • 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 there are Great Inequalitie of Yeares”, in An Heptameron of Ciuill Discourses. […], London: […] Richard Iones, […], →OCLC, signature T, recto:
        The olde man, which marrieth a yonge Wyfe, is ſure of this ſowre ſauce, to relliſh his ſwete Imaginations: […]
        A figurative use.
      • 1613, Samuel Purchas, “[Asia.] Of the Syrian Kings, and Alteration in Gouernment, and Religion, in Those Countries.”, in Purchas His Pilgrimage. Or Relations of the World and the Religions Observed in All Ages and Places Discouered, from the Creation vnto this Present. […], London: […] William Stansby for Henrie Fetherstone, […], →OCLC, book I [Of the First Beginnings of the World and Religion: And of the Regions and Religions of Babylonia, Assyria, Syria, Phænicia, and Palestina], page 73:
        And yet as earthly happines herein comes ſhort of heauen, that it is neuer meere and vnmixed, but hath ſome ſovvre ſauce to relliſh it: ſo falleth it as farre ſhort of hell, that not onely hope, but the moſt miſerable hap, hath ſome glimpſe of comfort.
        A figurative use.
      • 1717, John Dryden, “Book VIII. [The Story of Baucis and Philemon.]”, in Ovid’s Metamorphoses in Fifteen Books. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, pages 285–286:
        By this the boiling Kettle had prepar'd, / And to the Table ſent, the ſmoaking Lard; / On which the eager Appetite they dine, / A ſav'ry Bit, that ſerv'd to relliſh Wine: […]
      • c. 1719 (date written), Allan Ramsay, “An Epistle to W[illiam] H[amilton], on the Receiving the Compliment of a Barrel of Loch-fyne Herrings from Him, 19th December, 1719”, in Poems, Edinburgh: Printed for the author […] [and sold by T. Jauncy […]], published 1720, →OCLC, page 197:
        Your Herrings, Sir, came hale and feer, / In healſome Brine a' foumin, / Fu' fat they are, and guſty Gear / As e'er I laid my Thumb on: / […] / They reliſh fine / Good Claret VVine, / That gars our Cares ſtand yon.
      • 1872, Robert Browning, Fifine at the Fair, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], →OCLC, stanza 92, page 117:
        [T]he wisdom-tooth, just cut, of the age, that's found / With gums obtuse to gust and smack which relished so / The meat o' the meal folks made some fifty years ago.
    2. (also reflexive, figurative, sometimes in the negative) To take delight or pleasure in (someone or oneself, or something).
      Synonyms: appreciate, delight in, enjoy, like, revel in
      He relishes their time together.
      I don’t relish the idea of going out tonight.
      • 1599 (first performance), B. I. [i.e., Ben Jonson], The Comicall Satyre of Euery Man out of His Humor. […], London: […] [Adam Islip] for William Holme, […], published 1600, →OCLC, Act V, scene iii [alternative ending], signature Riij, recto:
        It had another Cataſtrophe or Concluſion, at the firſt Playing: vvhich […] many ſeem'd not to relliſh it; and therefore 'tvvas ſince alter'd: […]
      • 1600 (first performance), Beniamin Ionson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Cynthias Reuels, or The Fountayne of Selfe-Loue. […]”, in The Workes of Beniamin Ionson (First Folio), London: […] Will[iam] Stansby, published 1616, →OCLC, Act IIII, scene iii, page 224:
        I neuer truly reliſht my ſelfe, before.
      • 1603, Michaell [i.e., Michael] Drayton, “Idea. Sonnet 28.”, in The Barrons Wars in the Raigne of Edward the Second. […], London: […] I[ames] R[oberts] for N[icholas] Ling, →OCLC, signature [P6], recto:
        O vvhy ſhould nature nigardly reſtraine, / The Sotherne Nations reliſh not our tongue, / Elſe ſhould my lines gline on the vvaues of Rhene [Rhine], / And crovvne the Pirens [Pyrenees] vvith my liuing ſong; […]
      • c. 1603–1606 (date written), [William Shakespeare], […] His True Chronicle Historie of the Life and Death of King Lear and His Three Daughters. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Nathaniel Butter, […], published 1608, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], signature C, verso:
        This policie of age makes the vvorld bitter to the beſt of our times, keepes our fortunes from vs till our oldnes cannot reliſh them, […]
      • 1624 March 23 (date delivered; Gregorian calendar), Robert Saunderson [i.e., Robert Sanderson], “[Ad Clerum.] The Third Sermon. At a Visitation at Boston Lincoln[shire] 13. March. 1624.”, in Twelve Sermons, […], [new] edition, London: […] Aug[ustine] Math[ews], for Robert Dawlman, and are to be sold by Robert Allet, […], published 1632, →OCLC, [https:// page 114]:
        […] I am confident, that the manner of handling vſed therein, in taxing the Abuſes vvith ſuch Freedone, as (it may be) ſome vvill not relliſh, vvill yet be by ſo much more acceptable to you, […]
      • [1633], George Herbert, “The Flower”, in [Nicholas Ferrar], editor, The Temple. Sacred Poems, and Private Ejaculations, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] Thomas Buck and Roger Daniel; and are to be sold by Francis Green, […], →OCLC, page 161:
        I once more ſmell the devv and rain, / And reliſh verſing: […]
      • a. 1636 (date written), Richard Sibbs [i.e., Sibbes], “Sermon V. Canticles v. ii.”, in The Works of the Reverend Richard Sibbs, D.D. […], volume I, Aberdeen: […] J. Chalmers & Co. for R. Ogle, […]; and T. Hamilton, […], published 1809, →OCLC, page 78:
        But every true chriſtian comes, and reliſheth what is ſpiritual: and when outward things can convey, in ſimilitudes, ſpiritual things aptly to the mind, he reliſheth this, not as elegant, and pleaſing his fancy, ſo much, as for conveying the voice of Chriſt unto his ſoul.
      • 1706 October 9 (date delivered; Gregorian calendar), Francis Atterbury, “A Sermon Preach’d in the Guild-Hall Chapel, London, Sept. 28. 1706. being the Day of the Election of the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor [Thomas Rawlinson]”, in Fourteen Sermons Preach’d on Several Occasions. […], London: […] E. P. [Edmund Parker?] for Jonah Bowyer, […], published 1708, →OCLC, page 415:
        He vvho thus eſteems and reverences himſelf, […] vvill knovv hovv to prize his Advantages, and to reliſh the Honours vvhich he enjoys; […]
      • 1785, William Cowper, “Book V. The Winter Morning Walk.”, in The Task, a Poem, […], London: […] J[oseph] Johnson;  […], →OCLC, page 221:
        Thine eye ſhall be inſtructed, and thine heart / Made pure, ſhall reliſh vvith divine delight / 'Till then unfelt, vvhat hands divine have vvrought.
      • 1820, Sophocles, “Œdipus Tyrannus; or, Swellfoot the Tyrant. A Tragedy, in Two Acts. […]”, in Percy Bysshe Shelley, transl., edited by [Mary] Shelley, The Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley. […], new edition, London: Edward Moxon […], published 1840, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 183, column 1:
        And January winds, after a day / Of butchering, will make them relish carrion.
      • 1835 August, Ollapod [pseudonym; Willis Gaylord Clark], “Ollapodiana. Number Four.”, in [Lewis Gaylord Clark], editor, The Knickerbocker, or New-York Monthly Magazine, volume VI, number 2, New York, N.Y.: [Lewis Gaylord] Clark & [Clement M.] Edson, proprietors, →OCLC, pages 128–129:
        It is better, I take it, to laugh than to cry; and, Reader, I hope thou relishest a joke.
      • 1837–1839, Henry Hallam, “On the General State of Literature in the Middle Ages to the End of the Fourteenth Century”, in Introduction to the Literature of Europe, in the Fifteenth, Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries, volume I, London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, paragraph 92, page 109:
        His [Petrarch's] fine taste taught him to relish the beauties of Virgil and Cicero, and his ardent praises of them inspired his compatriots with a desire for classical knowledge.
      • 1864 May – 1865 November, Charles Dickens, “The Man from Somewhere”, in Our Mutual Friend. […], volume I, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1865, →OCLC, 1st book (The Cup and the Lip), page 6:
        It is questionable whether any man quite relishes being mistaken for any other man; […]
      • 1921 September, John Galsworthy, “Timothy Prophesies”, in To Let, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, →OCLC, part II, page 223:
        I wish I could make you a pink cream, Mr. Soames, like in the old days; you did so relish them.
      • 2022 December 15, Denis Campbell, quoting Pat Cullen, “Tens of thousands of nurses prepare to strike in ‘tragic first’ for NHS”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian‎[3], London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 6 November 2024:
        "Nurses are not relishing this," she said. "We are acting with a very heavy heart. It has been a difficult decision taken by hundreds of thousands who begin to remove their labour from tomorrow in a bid to be heard, recognised and valued. […]"
      • 2025 October 1, Christian Wolmar, “Rail Minister at the Heart of Rail Reform”, in Rail, number 1045, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire: Bauer Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 35:
        Few political careers start when people are in their 70s, but [Peter] Hendy is actually relishing it, although he is incensed sometimes by the pointlessness of the posturing by the opposition, which keeps him up late. "The bit I don't like is getting home at 0100 or 0200 in the morning because the opposition have been fruitlessly arguing for a long time."
    3. (obsolete)
      1. To eat or taste (drink, food, etc.). [from 16th c.]
      2. To provide (someone, or their appetite, mouth, stomach, etc.) with something appetizing or tasty.
      3. (figurative) To appreciate or understand (something).
      4. (figurative) To experience (something); also (rare), to feel (something).
        • 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:
          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.
        • 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], page 16, column 2:
          Haſt thou (vvhich art but aire) a touch, a feeling / Of their afflictions, and ſhall not my ſelfe, / One of their kinde, that relliſh all as ſharpely, / Paſſion as they, be kindlier mou'd then thou art?
      5. (figurative) To have a particular opinion about (someone or something); to receive, to regard.
        • 1643, William Prynne, “The Treachery and Disloyalty of Papists to Their Soveraignes, in Doctrine and Practise. […] The Second Edition, Enlarged.”, in The Soveraigne Power of Parliaments and Kingdomes: […], London: […] Michael Sparke Senior, →OCLC, page 17:
          VVhich inſolent ſpeech the Engliſh Biſhops reliſhed ſo harſhly, that they preſently vvith one voyce threatned to accurſe and excommunicate by name the Kings principall vvicked Counſellers; […]
        • 1771, [Tobias Smollett], “To Sir Watkin Phillips, Bart. of Jesus College, Oxon.”, in The Expedition of Humphry Clinker […], volume III, London: […] W. Johnston, […]; and B. Collins, […], →OCLC, page 148:
          One morning, vvhile he vvas bathing in the ſea, his man Clinker took it in his head that his maſter vvas in danger of drovvning; and, in this conceit, plunging into the vvater, he lugged him out naked on the beach, and almoſt pulled off his ear in the operation. You may gueſs hovv this atchievement vvas reliſhed by Mr. Bramble, vvho is impatient, iraſcible, and has the moſt extravagant ideas of decency and decorum in the œconomy of his ovvn perſon— […]
      6. (figurative) To have a tinge or trace of (something).
        • a. 1638 (date written), Benjamin Jonson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Timber: Or, Discoveries; Made vpon Men and Matter: […]”, in The Workes of Benjamin Jonson. The Second Volume. […] (Second Folio), London: […] Richard Meighen, published 1641, →OCLC, page 130:
          This vvas Theatricall vvit, right Stage-jeſting, and reliſhing a Play-houſe, invented for ſcorne, and laughter; […]
      7. (figurative) To provide (someone) with something delightful or pleasant; to delight, to gratify, to please.
  2. (intransitive)
    1. (figurative) Followed by in: to take delight or pleasure.
    2. (obsolete)
      1. To have a particular (specifically, a pleasant) flavour or taste. [16th–19th c.]
      2. (figurative) To have a particular (specifically, a favourable) characteristic or quality.
        • 1584, William Warner, “Thetis. Calamus Secundus. Chapter 14.”, in Pan His Syrinx, or Pipe. […], London: […] Thomas Purfoote, […], →OCLC, signature F3, verso:
          But if any ſhall inquire farther as concerning Thetis, my aunſwere muſt then relliſh after the Oracle at Delphos, that euermore left the certaintie of thinges to vncertaine euentes, and howſoeuer it hapned with or contrarie to expectation, yet ſtill the euent made good the oracle: […]
        • c. 1590 (date written), [John Lyly], Mother Bombie. […], London: […] Thomas Scarlet for Cuthbert Burby, published 1594, →OCLC, Act I, scene iii, signature B3, recto:
          [N]othing can reliſh in their thoughtes that ſauours of ſvveet youth: […]
        • 1599 November–December (date written), Thomas Dekker, The Pleasant Comedie of Old Fortunatus. […], London: […] S. S. for William Aspley, […], published 1600, →OCLC, signature B, recto:
          How ſwéete your howlings relliſh in mine eares?
        • c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii], page 301, column 2:
          [H]ad I beene the finder-out of this Secret, it vvould not have relliſh'd among my other diſcredits.
        • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], “Against Pouerty and Want, with such Other Adversity”, in The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition 2, section 3, member 3, page 273:
          [T]hirſt, heat, ſands, ſerpents vvere pleaſant to a valiant man, honorable enterpriſes are accompanied vvith dangers and damages, as experience evinceth, they vvill make the reſt of thy life relliſh the better, […]
        • 1649, I[oseph] H[all], “Case VIII. Whether It be Lawfull for Christians where They Finde a Country Possessed by Savage Pagans and Infidels, to Drive out the Native Inhabitants; and to Seize, and Enjoy Their Lands upon any Pretence; and upon what Grounds It may be Lawfull so to Doe.”, in Resolutions and Decisions of Divers Practicall Cases of Conscience in Continuall Use amongst Men, […], London: […] M. F. [Miles Flesher?] for Nath[aniel] Butter […], and are to be sold by Humphrey Mosley, Abel Roper, and Iohn Sweeting, →OCLC, 3rd decade (Cases of Piety and Religion), page 326:
          [W]hen they are thus vvon to a liking of our perſons, and carriage, they vvill be then vvell capable of our holy counſels; Then vvill the Chriſtian faith begin to reliſh vvith them; […]
        • 1654, Thomas Fuller, “A Comment on Ruth. For the Lord hath Dealt Bitterly with Me.”, in Two Sermons: […], London: […] G. and H. Eversden, […], →OCLC, page 121:
          Afflictions relliſh ſoure and bitter even to the pallats of the beſt Saints.
        • 1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC, page 256:
          This Part of Friday’s Diſcourſe began to reliſh vvith me very vvell, and from this Time I entertain'd ſome Hopes, that one Time or other, I might find an Opportunity to make my Eſcape from this Place; […]
      3. (figurative) To have a tinge or trace of something.
        • c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke: […] (Second Quarto), London: […] I[ames] R[oberts] for N[icholas] L[ing] […], published 1604, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], signature G2, verso:
          You ſhould not haue beleeu'd me, for vertue cannot ſo e[n]oculat our old ſtock, but vve ſhall reliſh of it, I loued you not.
        • 1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, “Of Christian Religion”, in The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Francis Ashe […], →OCLC, section VII (Of Prayer), page 300:
          [B]y often praying in ſuch manner and in all circumſtances, vve ſhall habituate our ſouls to prayer, by making it the buſineſs of many leſſer portions of our time: and by thruſting in betvveen all our other imployments, it vvill make every thing reliſh of Religion, and by degrees turn all into its nature.
        • 1695, John Woodward, “Part VI. Concerning the State of the Earth, and the Productions of It, before the Deluge.”, in An Essay toward a Natural History of the Earth: And Terrestrial Bodies, Especially Minerals: […], London: […] Ric[hard] Wilkin […], →OCLC, page 245:
          [A] Theory vvhich, hovv much ſoever it may reliſh of VVit and Invention, hath no real Foundation either in Nature or Hiſtory, […]
        • 1850, Leigh Hunt, “Literary Acquaintance”, in The Autobiography of Leigh Hunt; […], volume II, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], →OCLC, page 31:
          [H]e could do it because his piety was of the true sort, and relished of everything that was sweet and affectionate.
        • a. 1895 (date written), Robert Louis Stevenson, “A Leaf from Christina’s Psalm-book”, in S[idney] C[olvin], editor, Weir of Hermiston: An Unfinished Romance, London: Chatto and Windus […], published 1896, →OCLC, pages 188–189:
          Those things that still smacked of winter were all rusty about her, and those things that had already relished of the spring had put forth the tender and lively colours of the season.
      4. (figurative) To provide delight or pleasure.
Conjugation
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Conjugation of relish
infinitive (to) relish
present tense past tense
1st-person singular relish relished
2nd-person singular relish, relishest† relished, relishedst†
3rd-person singular relishes, relisheth† relished
plural relish
subjunctive relish relished
imperative relish —
participles relishing relished

† Archaic or obsolete.

Derived terms
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Translations
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Etymology 2

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The noun is derived from Late Middle English relese (“projection of a wall”),[6] probably from Middle French relais or Old French relais (“projection of masonry at the base of a wall”), a specific use of reles, relais (“that which is left behind, remainder, residue”):[7] see further at etymology 1. Doublet of release.

The verb is derived from the noun.[8]

Noun

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relish (plural relishes)

  1. (architecture, obsolete) A projecting component.
  3. (carpentry, by extension) In a wooden frame: the projection or shoulder around, or at the side of, a tenon (“projecting member made to insert into a mortise”), used to strengthen a mortise-and-tenon joint.
    • 1703, T. N. [pseudonym; Richard Neve], “Beam”, in The City and Countrey Purchaser, and Builder’s Dictionary: Or, The Compleat Builder’s Guide. […], London: […] J. Sprint […], G. Conyers […], and T. Ballard […], →OCLC, paragraph 1, page 30:
      The Teazle Tennons are made at right Angles to thoſe vvhich are made on the Poſts to go into the Raiſons, and the Reliſh, or Cheats of theſe Teazle Tennons ſtand up vvithin an Inch and a ½ of the top of the Raiſon, […]
    • 1833 May, “Description of Tichenor’s Patent Machinery for Making Window Sash, Pannel Doors, Window Blinds, and Pannel Work Generally. Communicated by the Proprietors, for the American Mechanics’ Magazine.”, in Mechanics’ Magazine, and Register of Inventions and Improvements, volume I, number 5, New York, N.Y.: [John Knight], →OCLC, page 237, column 2:
      The morticing is done on the opposite side of the main frame and driven by a crank; the chisels are set transversely or crosswise, in order to leave a relish as in a mortice made by hand; one or more holes are bored to start from.
Translations
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Verb

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

  1. (transitive, carpentry) To add one or more relishes (noun etymology 2, noun sense 2) to (a tenon, piece of wood, etc.).
    • 1903, Fred[erick] T[homas] Hodgson, “Fourth Method: Examples of Platform Stairs”, in Common-sense Stair Building and Handrailing […], Riverside; Chicago, Ill.: The Radford Architectural Co., →OCLC, page 117:
      At Fig. 13 I show a housed string between newels. Here the string is double tenoned into the shanks of both newels, also relished between tenons and pinned into the shank.
Translations
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Etymology 3

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The noun is probably derived partly:[9]

See further at etymology 1. The verb is probably derived from the noun.[10]

Noun

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relish (plural relishes)

  1. (music, historical) A type of ornamentation comprising one or more trills.

Verb

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

  1. (transitive, music, obsolete) To sing (a song or tune); specifically, in a manner where there are tremulous changes of tone; to trill, to warble.
    • c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 23, column 2:
      Val[entine]. VVhy, hovv knovv you that I am in loue? / Speed. Marry by theſe ſpeciall markes: firſt you haue learn'd (like Sir Protheus) to vvreath your Armes like a Male-content: to relliſh a Loue-ſong, like a Robin-red-breaſt: to vvalke alone like one that had the peſtilence: to ſigh, like a Schoole-boy that had loſt his A. B. C. […]
    • 1594, William Shakespeare, Lucrece (First Quarto), London: […] Richard Field, for Iohn Harrison, […], →OCLC, signature H3, verso:
      You mocking Birds (quoth ſhe) your tunes intombe / VVithin your hollovv ſvvelling feathered breaſts, / […] / Raliſh your nimble notes to pleaſing eares, / Diſtres likes dũps vvhẽ [dumps when] time is kept vvith teares.
      A dump is a melancholy strain or tune in music.
    • 1607 (first performance), Thomas Heywood, The Rape of Lucrece. A True Roman Tragedie. […], London: […] [Edward Allde] for I[ohn] B[usby] and are to be solde [by Nathaniel Butter] […], published 1608, →OCLC, signature C, recto:
      [N]ovv hee's all muſicall. / Vnto the counſell chamber he goes ſinging, / And vvhileſt the king his vvilfull edicts makes, / In vvhich nones tongue is povverful ſaue the kings, / Hee's in a corner, reliſhing ſtrange aires.

References

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  1. ^ “relēs, n.(1)”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
  2. ^ “relish, n.2”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, December 2025.
  3. ^ “† relese, n.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, September 2025.
  4. ^ “relish, n.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
  5. ^ “relish, v.1”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, December 2025; “relish, v.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
  6. ^ “relēs, n.(2)”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
  7. ^ “relish, n.1”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, September 2025.
  8. ^ “relish, v.3”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, June 2025.
  9. ^ “relish, n.3”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, September 2025.
  10. ^ “† relish, v.2”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, July 2023.

Further reading

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Anagrams

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French

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Etymology

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Borrowed from English relish.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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relish f (uncountable)

  1. relish (pickled sauce)
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