▪ I. condiment, n.
(ˈkɒndɪmənt)
Also 5 condyment.
[a. F. condiment, ad. L. condīment-um, f. condī-re to preserve, pickle: see condite a.1]
Anything of pronounced flavour used to season or give relish to food, or to stimulate the appetite.
(Some medical writers class tea, coffee, alcoholic drinks, as condiments; but they are not ordinarily so called.)
| c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. xi. 503 This condyment is esy and jocounde. Ibid. xii. 351 This moone is made olyve in condyment. 1626 Bacon Sylva §630 As for Raddish, and Tarragon..they are for Condiments. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. iii. xxii, Many things are swallowed by animals..for condiment, gust or medicament. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth ii, He proceeded to spread the board..with salt, spices, and other condiments. 1869 Rogers in Adam Smith's W.N. I. Editor's Pref. 29 The intense desire to obtain those Eastern condiments. |
b. fig.
| c 1430 tr. T. à Kempis 109 Make it sauory wiþ þe condiment of þy wisdom. a 1677 Barrow Serm. (1686) III. xix. 218 Hope..is the incentive, the support, the condiment of all honest labour. 1850 Carlyle Latter-d. Pamph. viii. 262 The virtues of Jesuitism, seasoned with that fatal condiment. |
▪ II. † condiment, v. rare.
[f. prec.]
trans. To season or flavour with a condiment; to spice.
| c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. xi. 525 Use this ferment For musty brede, whom this wol condyment. 1823 D'Israeli Cur. Lit. (1859) II. 251 Sinon, one of the great masters of the condimenting art. 1854 Badham Halieut. xxi. 487 Unless it be most carefully condimented and seasoned. |