savory

Etymology 1

From the Middle English savory, savourie, from Old French savouré, from Old French savourer, from Late Latin sapōrāre, present active infinitive of sapōrō, from Latin sapor (“taste, flavour”), from sapiō, sapere (“taste of, have a flavour of”).

adj

1. Tasty, attractive to the palate.
   The fine restaurant presented an array of savory dishes; each was delicious.
2. Salty and/or spicy, but not sweet.
   The mushrooms, meat, bread, rice, peanuts and potatoes were all good savory foods.
3. umami, modern
   The savory rabbit soup contrasted well with the sweet cucumber sandwiches with jam.
4. (figurative) Morally or ethically acceptable.
   Readers are to be warned that quotations in this chapter contain some not so savory language.

noun

1. (American spelling) A savory snack.
   On Friday the pastry chef Pichet Ong will open his own cafe, with sweets and savories served at tables and a counter. April 18, 2007, Florence Fabricant, “Off the Menu”, in New York Times

Etymology 2

Wikispecies From Middle English saverey, possibly from Old English sæþerie, from Latin satureia, influenced by or via Old French savereie.

noun

1. Any of several Mediterranean herbs, of the genus Satureja, grown as culinary flavourings.
2. The leaves of these plants used as a flavouring.