Definition

Noun: 1. The quality or property of being seasoned with spice and thus having a strong, pungent, or aromatic flavor: This refers to the characteristic of food or a substance that contains spices, resulting in a highly seasoned taste. 2. (Archaic) A collection or assortment of spices; spices collectively: This older usage refers to spices as a group or to a place where spices are kept or sold.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The spicery of the curry was perfect, with just the right amount of heat and aroma. (The highly seasoned quality of the curry was perfect.)
  • In medieval times, a merchant's spicery might contain pepper, cinnamon, and cloves from distant lands. (In medieval times, a merchant's collection of spices might contain...)

Advanced Usage

• "A hint of spicery": A slight but noticeable quality of being spiced.
  • The sauce had a subtle hint of spicery that complemented the grilled fish.
• Used in literary or descriptive contexts to evoke a sense of exotic flavor or aroma.
  • The air in the market was filled with the rich spicery of foreign goods.

Variants and Related Words

• Spice (n): A substance used to flavor food, often made from dried seeds, fruits, roots, or bark.
  • Ginger and nutmeg are common spices.
• Spicy (adj): Having the quality of spicery; flavored with or tasting of spice.
  • She loves spicy food.

Synonyms

• Pungency: A sharp, strong taste or smell.
• Seasoning: The process of adding salt, herbs, or spices to food; also, the substances used for this.
• Zest: A quality of excitement and piquancy; can also refer to the outer peel of citrus fruit used as flavoring.

Antonyms

• Blandness: Lacking strong flavor; mild.
• Insipidity: Lacking flavor, vigor, or interest.

Notes

• The primary modern use of spicery relates to the abstract of being spicy. The archaic meaning referring to the spices themselves or a spice shop is rarely used in contemporary English but may appear in historical or literary texts.

Noun

1. the property of being seasoned with spice and so highly flavored