a. Also 7–8 tastful. [f. TASTE sb.1 + -FUL.]
† 1. Having the capacity of tasting or trying.
1647. Crashaw, Poems, Flaming Heart, 50. What is’t your tasteful spirits do prove In that rare life of her and love?
2. Having an agreeable taste; palatable, toothsome, tasty. Now rare.
1611. Cotgr., Savoureux, sauorie, tastfull, tart, well smacking.
1621. Bp. Mountagu, Diatribæ, 358. Stolne waters are sweet,… no Bread so tastefull, as that of the Sanctuarie.
1707. Curios. in Husb. & Gard., 217. The tasteful Cider.
1747. Gentl. Mag., May, 243/2. With Temp’rance came, delightful guest! Health,—tasteful food, and balmy rest.
1887. Hissey, Holiday on Road, 177. Sheep that live upon such a pasturage should yield a tasteful dish.
† b. fig. Mentally pleasant or agreeable. Obs.
a. 1659. Osborn, Ess., iii. Wks. (1673), 562. Since nothing is more tasteful to Humanity, than Understanding.
a. 1701. Maundrell, Lett. to Sir C. Hedges, in Journ. Jerus. (1732), Pref. An Affectation, which however tastful it may be to the Persons who use it [etc.].
c. Full of taste; highly-flavored. rare.
1881. Sala, in Illustr. Lond. News, 14 May, 467/3. Punch is too strong and tasteful with turtle soup.
3. Having or showing good taste, as a person; displaying good taste, as a work of art, etc.
1756. Connoisseur, No. 120, ¶ 6. These are the poets who favour us with … tasteful compositions.
1816. Singer, Hist. Cards, 213. They were drawn on the blocks by the tasteful pencil of Stothard.
1849. N. & Q., I. 28/2. The tasteful publisher of the ‘Aldine Poets.’
1863. Lyell, Antiq. Man, ii. 10. The pottery … is of a more ornamental and tasteful style.
b. Of or pertaining to taste; æsthetic.
1851. J. Hamilton, Royal Preacher, x. (1858), 134. Conceding the same right to exert his tasteful and intellectual faculties when listening to a sermon as when perusing a … book.
Hence Tastefully adv., in a tasteful manner, with good taste; Tastefulness, the quality or state of being tasteful (in various senses).
1611. Cotgr., Savoureusement, sauorily, *tastfully, tastingly, with a good stomacke.
1808. Mrs. Kemble, Day after Wedding, 3. A Lady’s Dressing-room tastefully furnished.
1900. Westm. Gaz., 22 Oct., 1/2. The tastefully-arranged gardens which are to be found at many stations on that railway.
1727. Bailey, vol. II., *Tastefulness, Relishableness, Palatableness.
1844. Dickens, Mart. Chuz., ix. Mr. Pecksniff’s delight in the tastefulness of the house.
