relish

plural relishes · alternative rellish

1. obsoleteuncountableFlavour or taste; (countable) an instance of this.

   Much pleasure we have lost while we abstained / From this delightful fruit, nor known till now / True relish, tasting.

   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

   1 more example

   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.

   1748, [David Hume], “Essay II. Of the Origin of Ideas.”, in Philosophical Essays Concerning Human Understanding, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, page 25

2. countablefigurativelyobsoleteFollowed by for: one's liking or taste for something; a fondness.

   I have a relish for moderate praise, because it bids fair to be judicious.

   1785, William Cowper, letter to the Rev. John Newton (dated December 10, 1785)

   1 more example

   One of the first acts which he was under the necessity of performing must have been painful to a man of so generous a nature, and of so keen a relish for whatever was excellent in arts and letters.

   1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter XI, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC

3. countablefigurativelyobsoleteA small amount; a tinge, a trace.

   Synonyms: ace, atom, thought, atomy, aught, bissel, continental, bit · Antonyms: abundance, battalion, arseload, assload, bellyload, boatload, brimful, busload

4. figurativelyobsoleteuncountableAbility to taste or (figurative) enjoy.
5. figurativelyobsoleteuncountableParticular quality; (countable) an instance of this; a characteristic or quality.

   [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.

   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

6. broadlyuncountableEnjoyment of flavour or taste; (countable) an instance of this.
7. broadlyfigurativelyuncountableEnjoyment of something pleasant; (countable) an instance of this.

   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.

   2019 July 17, Talia Lavin, “When Non-Jews Wield Anti-Semitism as Political Shield”, in GQ

8. archaicbroadlyuncountableAppetizing or pleasant flavour or taste; (countable) an instance of this.
9. archaicbroadlyfigurativelyuncountablePleasant quality; (countable) an instance of this.

   When liberty is gone, / Life grows insipid, and has lost its relish.

   1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, (please specify the page)

10. broadlycountableA savoury dish or course of dishes, especially one accompanying rather than forming the main part of a meal; an appetizer, a side dish.
    1. broadlycountablefigurativelyuncountableA characteristic or quality which accompanies another thing.
11. broadlycountableuncountableA condiment or sauce added to food for a spicy or tangy flavour; specifically, one made with chopped, pickled fruit or vegetables.

    1 more example

    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.")

    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

present singular third person relishes · participle present relishing · participle past relished · past relished · first person past singular relished · archaic present second person singular relishest · past second person singular relished · archaic past second person singular relishedst · present singular third person relishes · archaic present singular third person relisheth · past singular third person relished · past plural relished · past subjunctive relished · participle present relishing · participle past relished

1. transitiveTo give (something) (a pleasant) flavour or taste; to make appetizing.First known use 16th c.

   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 there are Great Inequalitie of Yeares”, in An Heptameron of Ciuill Discourses. […], London: […] Richard Iones, […], →OCLC, signature T, recto

   4 more examples

   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.

   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

   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: […]

   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

   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.

   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

   [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.

   1872, Robert Browning, Fifine at the Fair, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], →OCLC, stanza 92, page 117

2. alsofigurativelyreflexivesometimestransitiveTo take delight or pleasure in (someone or oneself, or something).

   He relishes their time together.

   5 more examples

   I don’t relish the idea of going out tonight.

   It had another Cataſtrophe or Concluſion, at the firſt Playing: vvhich […] many ſeem'd not to relliſh it; and therefore 'tvvas ſince alter'd: […]

   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

   I neuer truly reliſht my ſelfe, before.

   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

   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; […]

   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

   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, […]

   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

   Synonyms: appreciate, delight in, enjoy, like, revel in

3. obsoletetransitiveTo eat or taste (drink, food, etc.).First known use 16th c.

   Friend? Is there any ſuch fooliſh thing i'the vvorld? ha? S'lid I ne're relliſht it yet.

   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 IV, scene iii, signature M, recto

   2 more examples

   [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

   Such a dainty Doe, to be taken / By one that knovvs not necke-beefe from a Pheſant, / Nor cannot relliſh Braggat from Ambroſia.

   1633 May 21 (licensing date; Gregorian calendar), John Fletcher, [James Shirley], The Night-Walker, or The Little Thief. A Comedy, […], London: […] Andrew Crook[e], published 1661, →OCLC, Act I

4. obsoletetransitiveTo 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. figurativelyobsoletetransitiveTo appreciate or understand (something).

   Novv Vlyſſes, I begin to reliſh thy aduiſe, / And I vvill giue a taſte thereof forthvvith, / To Agamemnon, […]

   c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Famous Historie of Troylus and Cresseid. […] (First Quarto), London: […] G[eorge] Eld for R[ichard] Bonian and H[enry] Walley, […], published 1609, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii], signature [C4], recto

   3 more examples

   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, →OCLC, Act I, signature B4, verso

   VVhy vvhat neede vve / Commune vvith you of this? […] if you, or ſtupified, / Or ſeeming ſo, in ſkill, cannot, or vvill not / Relliſh truth, like vs: informe your ſelues / VVe neede no more of your aduice: […]

   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 II, scene i], page 283, column 1

   [T]he following song is an old ode, which I present to the public in a new edition, with the several various readings which I find of it in former editions, and in ancient manuscripts. Those who cannot relish the various readings, will perhaps find their account in the song, which never before appeared in print.

   1712 September 8 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “THURSDAY, August 29, 1712”, in The Spectator, number 470; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume V, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 317

6. figurativelyobsoletetransitiveTo 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

   1 more example

   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?

   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

7. figurativelyobsoletetransitiveTo have a particular opinion about (someone or something); to receive, to regard.

   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; […]

   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

   1 more example

   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— […]

   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

8. figurativelyobsoletetransitiveTo have a tinge or trace of (something).

   This vvas Theatricall vvit, right Stage-jeſting, and reliſhing a Play-houſe, invented for ſcorne, and laughter; […]

   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

9. figurativelyobsoletetransitiveTo provide (someone) with something delightful or pleasant; to delight, to gratify, to please.
10. figurativelyintransitiveFollowed by in: to take delight or pleasure.
11. intransitiveobsoleteTo have a particular (specifically, a pleasant) flavour or taste.First known use 16th–19th c.

    [G]ood ſalt cannot relyſh in ſo vnſauory a mouth, […]

    1580, Iohn Lyly [i.e., John Lyly], “Euphues to Him that was His Philautus”, in Euphues and His England. […], London: […] [Thomas East] for Gabriell Cawood, […], →OCLC, folio 81, verso

    2 more examples

    No more the Bleſſings of a Feaſt / Shall reliſh on the Tongue, / The heavy Ear forgets the Taſte / And Pleaſure of a Song.

    1709, I[saac] Watts, “Remember Your Creator, &c. Eccles[iastes] 12.”, in Horæ Lyricæ. Poems, Chiefly of the Lyric Kind. […], 2nd edition, London: […] J. Humfreys, for N. Cliff, […], →OCLC, book I (Sacred to Devotion and Piety), stanza IV, page 44

    [A] glass of old port or humming ale hardly relishes as it ought without the infusion of some lively topic that had its birth with the day, and perishes before night.

    1822, William Hazlitt, “Essay IV. On Coffee-house Politicians.”, in Table-Talk; or, Original Essays, volume II, London: […] [Thomas Davison] for Henry Colburn and Co., →OCLC, pages 57–58

12. figurativelyintransitiveobsoleteTo have a particular (specifically, a favourable) characteristic or quality.

    How ſwéete your howlings relliſh in mine eares?

    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

    5 more examples

    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: […]

    1584, William Warner, “Thetis. Calamus Secundus. Chapter 14.”, in Pan His Syrinx, or Pipe. […], London: […] Thomas Purfoote, […], →OCLC, signature F3, verso

    [N]othing can reliſh in their thoughtes that ſauours of ſvveet youth: […]

    c. 1590 (date written), [John Lyly], Mother Bombie. […], London: […] Thomas Scarlet for Cuthbert Burby, published 1594, →OCLC, Act I, scene iii, signature B3, recto

    [H]ad I beene the finder-out of this Secret, it vvould not have relliſh'd among my other diſcredits.

    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

    [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, […]

    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

    [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; […]

    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

13. figurativelyintransitiveobsoleteTo have a tinge or trace of something.

    [H]e could do it because his piety was of the true sort, and relished of everything that was sweet and affectionate.

    1850, Leigh Hunt, “Literary Acquaintance”, in The Autobiography of Leigh Hunt; […], volume II, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], →OCLC, page 31

    4 more examples

    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.

    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

    [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.

    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

    [A] Theory vvhich, hovv much ſoever it may reliſh of VVit and Invention, hath no real Foundation either in Nature or Hiſtory, […]

    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

    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.

    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

14. figurativelyintransitiveobsoleteTo provide delight or pleasure.

plural relishes

1. obsoletearchitectureA projecting component.

   Relliſh, See Projecture [“a jetting over the upright of a Building”].

   [1679, Joseph Moxon, “An Explanation of Terms Used in These Exercises of Turning, Alphabetically Digested”, in Mechanick Exercises, or The Doctrine of Handy-Works, […], volume I, London: […] Joseph Moxon, published 1678, →OCLC

   1 more example

   Forject: m[asculine]. A iutting, or leaning out, or ouer; a relliſh, or out-footing.

   1611, Randle Cotgrave, compiler, “Forject”, in A Dictionarie of the French and English Tongues, London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC, signature Qq, recto, column 1

2. broadlybusinessIn 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.

   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, […]

   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

   1 more example

   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.

   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

present singular third person relishes · participle present relishing · participle past relished · past relished

1. transitivebusinessTo add one or more relishes (noun etymology 2, noun sense 2) to (a tenon, piece of wood, etc.).

   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.

   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

plural relishes

1. historicalentertainmentA type of ornamentation comprising one or more trills.

   O Gad! there's a flat Note! / There's art! hovv ſurprizingly the Key changes! / O lavv [Lord]! there's a double reliſh! I ſvvear, Sir, you have the ſvveeteſt little Finger in England!

   1693 February (first performance), Tho[mas] Southerne, The Maids Last Prayer: Or, Any, rather than Fail. A Comedy. […], London: […] R[ichard] Bentley, […], and J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1693, →OCLC, Act IV, scene [ii], page 42

present singular third person relishes · participle present relishing · participle past relished · past relished

1. obsoletetransitiveentertainmentTo sing (a song or tune); specifically, in a manner where there are tremulous changes of tone; to trill, to warble.

   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.

   1594, William Shakespeare, Lucrece (First Quarto), London: […] Richard Field, for Iohn Harrison, […], →OCLC, signature H3, verso

   2 more examples

   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. […]

   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

   [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.

   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