sweetness

Everyday

1. The taste of sugar or honey; being sweet. tree →
2. Kindness, gentleness and a pleasant nature. tree →
3. A pleasant quality of a sound or smell. tree →
4. (informal, as a pet name) «Sweetness» used to speak to someone you love. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons, sweetness is one of the basic tastes, with sour, salty, bitter and umami. In cooking, fruit adds natural sweetness. In stories it describes a gentle character or a pleasant song. Phrases: «natural sweetness», «sweetness and light», «a touch of sweetness».

Examples

• The sweetness of the strawberries was perfect. tree →
• Our tongue can taste sweetness, sourness, saltiness and bitterness. tree →
• Honey adds sweetness to porridge. tree →
• Everyone loved the sweetness of her nature. tree →
• The sweetness of the music made us calm. tree →
• (informal) «Morning, sweetness!» said Dad. tree →
• Too much sweetness in drinks is bad for teeth. tree →
• A jar of honey was upset and the sticky sweetness flowed out on the table. tree →

Note

Uncountable: «a lot of sweetness», not «sweetnesses». «Sweetness and light» means everything seems happy and friendly (often said ironically). Myth trap: the old «tongue map» (sweet only at the tip) is wrong — all parts of the tongue can taste sweetness.

In Jewish tradition

In Samson's riddle, sweetness came out of the strong lion, honey from a dead animal.

Interpretation. Tradition praises sweet words and good counsel as a gift. Torah itself is called sweeter than honey.

Examples

• Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. (Writings PRO.27.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• The wise in heart is called a man of discernment; and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning. (Writings PRO.16.21, JPS 1917) tree →
• And he said unto them: Out of the eater came forth food, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. (Prophets JDG.14.14, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Uncountable: «a lot of sweetness», not «sweetnesses». «Sweetness and light» means everything seems happy and friendly (often said ironically). Myth trap: the old «tongue map» (sweet only at the tip) is wrong — all parts of the tongue can taste sweetness.