“taste” in Latin

I. Objectively, (A) PROP., as a property of things, sapor (☞ gustus for sapor is un-Ciceronian). To have a pleasant taste, jucundo sapore esse, jucunde sapere: anything loses its taste, alicujus rei sapor non permanet integer: to have a taste that does not belong to it, alieno sapore infici (not alienum saporem ducere): to have a bitter taste, amarum saporem habere: taste in the mouth, sapor in ore relictus: to have a taste in the mouth after anything, resipere aliquid: pears leave a sourish taste in the mouth, pira acidulum saporem in ore relinquunt: the wine leaves a pitchy taste in the mouth, vinum resipit picem. (B) Figuratively, The good taste of anything, elegantia (e.g., of a poem): the bad taste of anything, insulsitas (e.g., villae: ☞ inelegantia is not Latin). II. Subjectively, as belonging to a person. (A) PROP.

The power or sense of tasting, gustatus: gustus (opposed to odoratus, aspectus; but Cic. uses gustatus only; ☞ sapor is quite unclassical in this sense). (B) Figuratively, (1) By way of trial; slight participation, etc., gustus (gustum tibi dare volui = “a short specimen,” Sen.). (2)

Sense of the beautiful, etc., gustatus; for anything, alicujus rei (e.g., facinorosi verae laudis gustatum non habent, Cic., Phil., 2, 45, 115 [so Or., al. gustum]): sensus (perception of; for anything, alicujus rei). To form one’s taste, *animum ad elegantiam informare: to have a taste for anything, aliqua re delectari, gaudere: to have no taste for, abhorrere a re; aliquid suo sensu non gustare: to acquire a taste for anything, alicujus rei sensu quodam imbui: to give anybody a taste for an art, *alicujus artis veluti gustatu quodam imbuere aliquem: anything is according to my taste, aliquid elegantiae meae esse videtur: anything is not to my taste, res non sapit ad genium meum (Vid: Plaut., Pers., 1, 3, 28); res non est mei stomachi (Vid: Cic., ad Fam., 1, 8, 5). Hence taste, in a more restricted meaning = (a) the power and then the readiness to observe and feel the beauty or deformity of an object, judicium (so far as it rests on a right judgement; sapor is here not Latin): intelligentia (understanding and appreciation of): a good or correct taste, elegantia (as a fine tact possessed): judicium intelligens (correct judgement): elegantia; venustas (sense of the beautiful): ☞ sensus pulchritudinis or pulchri not Latin. Critical taste, teretes aures (critical in judging of language, music, etc.). A man of taste, elegans; politus; venustus: a man of admirable taste on every subject, homo in omni judicio elegantissimus: bad taste, pravitas judicii (Quint.). A person of no taste, homo exiguum sapiens; homo sine judicio; homo parum elegans: a fastidious taste, fastidium delicatissimum: to possess the fine taste of anybody, alicujus elegantia tinctum esse: to have taste in any matter, in aliqua re sensum aliquem habere; elegantem alicujus rei esse spectatorem (on a subject of which the eyes can judge): to have no (or little) taste, exiguum sapere: to have a good taste, recte sapere: with good taste, scite (e.g., to dress one’s self, coli; to prepare a banquet, convivium exornare): commode (e.g., saltare): scienter (scientifically; e.g. tibiis cantare): manu eleganti (with tasteful hand; e.g., effingere scenam): to my taste, quantum ego sapio; pro mea sapientia (Vid: Ter., Adelph., 3, 3, 73); quantum equidem judicare possum, (b)

Manner of thinking or acting arising from taste of a particular kind, ingenium: mos (the former, of character of mind; the latter, of practice): a taste for Gothic, *ingenium Gothicum. Of artistic taste, stylus (style): manus (hand; the execution of a particular artist).

Transitively, gustatu (☞ gustu is late) explorare (to try by the taste, PROP.: ☞ gustu libare is poetical): gustare (to enjoy a little of anything; then figuratively = to become slightly acquainted with). To taste anything, degustare aliquid; gustare de re (to take a slight taste of anything; then also, figuratively = to become acquainted with the pleasures of anything; e.g., degustare vitam; degustare honorem): to taste beforehand, praegustare (PROP.): to taste the charm of life, gustare suavitatem vitae: to enable the people merely to taste of liberty, tantummodo potestatem gustandi libertatem populo facere: to taste adversity, calamitate affici.

Intransitively, sapere: aliquo sapore esse: to taste of anything, sapere or resipere aliquid (PROP.); redolere aliquid (figuratively): to taste bitter, amaro esse sapore: to taste well, jucunde sapere; suavi esse sapore.