flavor的词源

英文词源

flavor (n.): c. 1300, "a smell, odor" (usually a pleasing one), from Old French flaor "smell, odor; action of smelling, sense of smell," probably from Vulgar Latin flator "odor," literally "that which blows," in classical Latin "blower," from flare "to blow, puff," which is cognate with Old English blawan (see blow (v.1)).

"Not common before Milton's time" [Century Dictionary], and it is not clear what exactly Milton meant when he used it. The same Vulgar Latin source produced Old Italian fiatore "a bad odor." Sense of "taste, savor" is 1690s, perhaps 1670s; originally "the element in taste which depends on the sense of smell." The -v- in the English word is euphonic or perhaps from influence of savor. Flavor-of-the-month is from 1946 (originally of ice cream).
flavor (v.): 1540s, "communicate a distinctive quality to," from flavor (n.). Meaning "add a flavoring substance to" is from 1740. Earliest use was now-obsolete sense of "to smell" (early 15c.). Related: Flavored; flavoring.

来自辅音丛bl,fl, 吹，鼓起，词源同blow, blossom. 用来指飘浮的气味，味道。

该词的英语词源请访问趣词词源英文版：flavor 词源，flavor 含义。

词根fla指“吹气”，又写作flat，如inflate（使膨胀）的字面义就是“向里吹气”。它词源本义是“气味”，所以和“吹气”有关，后来引申为“味道”。后半部分vor很可能受到了savor（气味）的影响。flavor和savor是美语写法，英语中分别写作flavour和savour。