What does bespice mean?
Bespice is a rare English verb meaning to season or flavour food with spices — to make a dish spicy or piquant by adding aromatic ingredients such as pepper, cinnamon, or cloves. Formed from the prefix be-, which here indicates covering or treating thoroughly, plus the noun spice, it belongs to a family of old verbs describing how food was prepared and preserved in eras when spices were prized commodities. Today the word survives mainly as a literary or archaic term, appearing most naturally in discussions of historical cookery, medieval feasting, or stylised prose about food. Modern writers would ordinarily reach for the simpler verbs season or spice, but bespice offers a distinctive, evocative alternative when an antique tone is wanted. Its rarity makes it a curiosity of the culinary lexicon rather than part of everyday vocabulary.
verbTo season or flavour food with spices; to render spicy or piquant.
- To season or flavour food with spices.
"The medieval cooks would bespice the venison heavily for the winter feast."
"The chef chose to bespice the lamb with cinnamon and cloves."
"Old recipes often instructed cooks to bespice the wine before serving it warmed."
Bespice is the verb hiding inside your spice rack — a centuries-old way to say you've seasoned a dish to perfection.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bespice
Bespice derives from Middle English, formed by attaching the prefix be- to the noun spice. Spice itself entered English via Old French espice, ultimately from Latin species, which originally meant kind or appearance and came to denote wares and goods — including aromatic commodities. The word shares this Latin root with terms like species and special, and its use reflects the era when spices were among the most valuable trade goods in Europe.
How bespice is actually used
Bespice is a rare, somewhat archaic or literary word; modern speakers typically use "season" or "spice" instead. It carries an old-fashioned, almost culinary-historical flavour that suits historical fiction or writing about traditional cookery.
Easily confused with bespice
"Bespoke" means custom-made or tailor-made, while "bespice" means to season something with spices.