What does relishable mean?
Relishable is an adjective meaning pleasant or enjoyable, especially in a way that invites appreciation or savoring. Its most familiar use is for food and drink, but it can also characterize a story, performance, or experience that gives pleasure. Its force lies in the connection between enjoyment and the idea of taking deliberate pleasure in something: to relish a thing is to savor it, while something relishable is worthy of that attention. The word has a somewhat literary, old-fashioned tone and is less usual in everyday speech than enjoyable or pleasing. It is also not restricted to literal taste, although food remains its most natural territory. Relishable is therefore useful when a writer wants to suggest not merely that something is good, but that it affords a distinctive and satisfying pleasure.
adjectivePleasing or enjoyable; worth relishing.
- Pleasing, enjoyable, or worthy of being relished, especially of food or drink but also figuratively of anything that gives pleasure.
"The chef's smoky eggplant was unexpectedly relishable."
"The chef's smoky eggplant was unexpectedly relishable."
"A sharp, warm comedy can make even an ordinary family evening relishable."
One -able ending turns “I relish this” into “this is worth relishing.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does relishable come from?
Relishable was formed in English from the older word relish by adding the suffix -able. Relish was borrowed into Middle English from Old French relire, “to taste again,” ultimately derived from re- and lire, “to pick or gather,” from Latin legere, “to pick, choose, or read.” Its development gave relishable the sense “worthy of being relished,” and hence “enjoyable or appealing.”
How relishable is actually used
Relishable is less common than enjoyable and has a slightly literary tone. It is especially natural for food and drink, although figurative use is possible.
Easily confused with relishable
Relish is a noun or verb meaning enjoyment or to enjoy something, whereas relishable is an adjective describing something that is worth enjoying.