gustate

English

Etymology

From Latin gustātus, past participle of gustō.

Verb

gustate (third-person singular simple present gustates, present participle gustating, simple past and past participle gustated)

1. (rare, literary) To taste; to have a relish for.
   • 1869, William Howitt, “Classical and Modern Notions of the Relations betwixt Matter and Spirit”, in The Spiritual Magazine, volume IV, London: James Burns, […], page 350:

     These woful spirits, drenched with the sensuous elements of the life which they led on earth; selfish as they were then to the very inmost depths of their natures, rush with a reckless and gluttonous appetite into the tissues of unfortunately open constitutions, and exult in breathing, drinking in, gustating with a cruel and relentless ardour the sensations and odours of this mortal life once more.

   • 1897, Elwin Vyne, “To the Old Year Passing”, in Gather’d Fragments: Poems, new edition, London: Bertram Dobell, […], page 140:

     Within gardens we have sat, / Gazing on a grassy plat, / With an ecstacy elate; / Gustating thy summer air, / With a joy we cannot share, / Looking on thy summer tree, / Offshoot of far Virgineé.

   • 1944 January 18, Ursula Bethell, “To Kathleen & Merlin Davies”, in Peter Whiteford, editor, Vibrant with Words: The Letters of Ursula Bethell, Wellington: Victoria University Press, published 2005, →ISBN, section VII (1944–1945), page 328:

     Back from dentist, there lay yr. letter on my dressing table – best possible Restorative. I read it while gustating cautiously […] & gratefully swallowing the broth Mrs. O’C. had specially prepared for me.

Related terms

• degustate
• gust
• gustation

Esperanto

Adverb

gustate

1. present adverbial passive participle of gusti

Italian

Etymology 1

Verb

gustate

1. inflection of gustare:
   1. second-person plural present indicative
   2. second-person plural imperative

Etymology 2

Participle

gustate f pl

1. feminine plural of gustato

Latin

Participle

gustāte

1. vocative masculine singular of gustātus

Spanish

Verb

gustate

1. second-person singular voseo imperative of gustar combined with te