gusto

Where does the word "gusto" come from? It comes from Latin gustare, passing through Italian before entering English (1620s).

Gusto’s story begins in Latin: gustare meant “to taste.” The verb of tasting. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Italian as gusto. The related noun named the sense of taste itself. It reached English by 1620s as gusto. Borrowed and shifted from literal taste to enthusiastic relish or vigor in any activity. Today, gusto means enthusiastic enjoyment or vigor in doing something.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient gustare "to taste", the verb of tasting.
2. Stage 2 · Italian · medieval gusto "taste", the related noun named the sense of taste itself.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1620s gusto "enthusiasm, vigorous enjoyment", borrowed and shifted from literal taste to enthusiastic relish or vigor in any activity.