gusto
nounUK /ˈɡʌstəʊ/ · US /ˈɡʌstoʊ/
Etymology Borrowed from Italian gusto, from Latin gustus (“taste”). Doublet of cost (see Etymology 3 there).
1
Enthusiasm; enjoyment, vigor.
- He sang with more gusto than talent.
- Sing, Johnny One-Note / Sing out with gusto / And just overwhelm all the crowd1937, Rodgers and Hart, “Johnny One Note”:
3 more examples
- And the sound increases … the power grows … gusto becomes something else: rage.1993, Paul Chadwick, The Dictator’s Dream, Dark Horse Books:
- They take sledgehammers to statues with an uncommon gusto – destroying in seconds what may have survived centuries.2015 February 26, Ben Wedeman, Dana Ford, “Video shows ISIS militants destroying antiquities in Iraq”, in CNN, archived from the original on 01 Feb 2023:
- Germany regeared for the second half: same shape, more control. Mexico had lost some of their vim. And before long the game had turned on its head, with Germany able to keep the ball now, Kroos hitting his range, and Mexico less adept at seizing possession, unable to spring forward with such gusto.2018 June 17, Barney Ronay, “Mexico’s Hirving Lozano stuns world champions Germany for brilliant win”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 05 Aug 2019:
2
Rare An individual's fondness or liking of a particular flavor.
- Why should you force wine upon us? We are not all of your gusto.1672, William Wycherley, Love in Wood:
3
Art, Arts The style in which a work is done, its artistic style, and occasionally, the prevailing style in matters of taste.
- The Designs..are of very mean Gusto.1712, John James (architect), Theory & Practice of Gardening:
4
Obsolete Aesthetic appreciation.
- Another, who has no Gusto of either sort, believes all those they call Virtuosi to be half-distracted.1709, Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury, Moralists: