gusto

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈɡʌstəʊ/ (UK); /ˈɡʌstoʊ/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Italian gusto (“taste”),^{[2][3][4][5][6]} from Latin gustus (“a tasting”),^{[2][3][4][5][6]} related to gustāre “to taste”.^[3][4] English had earlier borrowed the French form guste, which became obsolete.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Keen relish or enjoyment shown in speech or action (1629).^[7][3]

Semantic evolution

The word first covered several senses of taste: individual liking (1647), artistic style (1662), aesthetic appreciation and flavour,^[7] the last two now obsolete.^[7] The OED notes that the sense of zest became very common from the beginning of the 19th century.^[7][4]

Timeline

• mid-15th century – guste, from French, now obsolete.^[4]
• 1620 – first date given by Merriam-Webster.^[5]
• 1629 – keen enjoyment.^[7][3]
• 1647 – individual liking.^[7]
• 1662 – artistic style.^[7]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. Vigorous, hearty enjoyment; zest.
2. An individual taste or liking.
3. (archaic) Artistic style.

Related words

• disgust
• gustatory

Usage notes

Random House gives enthusiasm, delight, relish, zest, spirit and fervor as synonyms.^[6]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
3. ^ a b c d e Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
4. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
6. ^ a b c Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
7. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press