sour-sweetadj.n.
A. adj.
Sweet with an admixture or aftertaste of sourness. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sweetness > [adjective] > sweet-sour
eager-dulce1548
eager-sweet1600
sour-sweet1601
dulcacid1656
dulcoacid1657
dulcoamare1657
acidulcis1682
sweet and sourc1879
agrodolce1894
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > [adjective] > sour or sweet
eager-dulce1548
eager-sweet1600
sour-sweet1601
dulcoacid1657
dulcoamare1657
sweet and sourc1879
1601 Marie Magdalens Lament. Pref. 18 They cannot sigh..With contrite minds such soure-sweete throbs to stain.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. v. 154 The Scolopendra haue suckt in The sower-sweet morsell with the barbed Pinne.
1633 G. Herbert Bitter-sweet in Temple ii All my sowre-sweet dayes I will lament, and love.
1859 G. Meredith Ordeal Richard Feverel III. vii. 200 ‘A choice of evils,’ said Mrs. Doria's sour-sweet face and shake of the head.
1871 C. Kingsley At Last II. x. 72 He..peels carefully off the skin,..and eats the sour-sweet refreshing pulp.
B. n.
Something which is sour-sweet; spec. an acid sweetmeat.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sweetness > [noun] > sour-sweet thing
sour-sweet1603
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sourness or acidity > [noun] > sour or sweet
sour-sweet1603
the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > confections or sweetmeats > sweets > [noun] > a sweet > acid sweets
sour-sweet1603
acid drop1783
acidulated drop1827
acidulated tablet1889
acid tablet1893
sour-ball1900
nippy sweetie1994
1603 J. Davies Microcosmos 99 Sinnes sowre-Sweetes do fleete To make the Mind abhorre her former lust.
1612 J. Davies Muses Sacrifice in Wks. (Grosart) II. 83/1 My Proheme is a Feast, Whereat my Muse doth surfet with sowre-sweetes.
1896 ‘J. Ackworth’ Clog Shop Chron. 227 When Ben had taken his seat, and given a sour-sweet to each of the children.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
<
adj.n.1601