gourmand
gourmand Lexical Profile
gourmand Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person who enjoys eating and often eats to excess; a glutton.
"As a self-proclaimed gourmand, he planned his entire European vacation around visiting famous bistros and food markets."
A connoisseur of good food and drink; an epicure.
"The tasting menu was carefully designed to impress even the most seasoned gourmand."
• adjective
Designating a category of perfumes characterized by edible, dessert-like scents such as vanilla, caramel, chocolate, or coffee.
"She prefers warm gourmand fragrances with notes of toasted almond and vanilla bean during the winter months."
Fond of good eating, often to excess; ravenous or gluttonous.
"His gourmand appetite made him a regular guest at the city's most lavish banquet halls."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'gourmet' and 'gourmand' are often used interchangeably, a 'gourmet' is a discerning connoisseur of fine food and drink, whereas a 'gourmand' traditionally emphasizes hearty or excessive eating, sometimes bordering on gluttony.
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the 15th century from Old French gourmand ('gluttonous'), a word of uncertain ultimate origin that was possibly influenced by gourmet ('wine merchant's servant').