distaste meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

distaste

noun

US /(ˌ)dɪsˈteɪst/

Etymology From dis- + taste.

Usually A feeling of dislike, aversion or antipathy.

Obsolete, Usually Aversion of the taste; dislike, as of food or drink; disrelish.

Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes; and adversity is not without comforts and hopes1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Adversity”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:

Obsolete, Usually Discomfort; uneasiness.

Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes, and adversity is not without comforts and hopes.1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Adversity”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:

Usually Alienation of affection; displeasure; anger.

On the part of Heav'n / Now alienated, diſtance and diſtaste,1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 8–9:

verb

Etymology From dis- + taste.

Obsolete To dislike.

How may I auoyde / (Although my will diſtaſte what it elected) / The Wife I choſe, there can be no euaſion / To blench from this, and to ſtand firme by honour.c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii], column 1:
Plato made it a great ſigne of an intemperate and corrupt common-wealth, where Lawyers and Phyſitians did abound, and the Romanes diſtaſted them ſo much, that they were often baniſhed out of theire city, as Pliny and Celſus relate, for 600 yeares not admitted.1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition II, section 4, member 1, subsection 1, page 296:

To be distasteful; to taste bad

Dangerous conceits are, in their natures, poisons. / Which at the first are scarce found to distaste, […]c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii]:

Obsolete To offend; to disgust; to displease.

He thought it no policy to distaste the English or Irish by a course of reformation, but sought to please them.1612, John Davies, Discoverie of the True Causes why Ireland was never entirely subdued:

Obsolete To deprive of taste or relish; to make unsavory or distasteful.

And vvhat auayl'd his Anſvver in that Caſe? / VVhich the time then did vtterly diſtaſte, / And look'd vpon him vvith ſo ſterne a Face, / As it his Actions vtterly diſgrac'd: […]1630, Michael Drayton, “The Barons Warres. In the Reigne of Edward the Second. The Sixt Canto.”, in Poems: […], London: […] Willi[am] Stansby for Iohn Smethwicke, →OCLC, stanza 81, page 151: