zest
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Meaning
a feeling of enjoyment and enthusiasm
the outer colored part of the skin of citrus fruit, used as flavoring
Usage
she approaches every new project with great zest.
add a teaspoon of lemon zest to the cake batter for a fresh citrus note.
his zest for life is truly infectious.
Etymology
The word "zest" entered English in the 17th century from the French term "zeste," which referred to a piece of lemon or orange peel used to flavor drinks. The French word likely originated from a Latin term, "scistus," meaning "split" or "divided," which itself derives from the verb "scindere" (to split). This connection to "splitting" or "peeling" is the literal origin of the culinary sense. The figurative meaning of "keen enjoyment" or "enthusiasm" developed later in English, metaphorically transferring the idea of something that adds a piquant flavor or excitement to an experience.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword from French. It does not contain separable morphemes within its Modern English spelling.