The Etymology of Condiment
Before condiments were about flavour, they were about survival. Latin condīre meant 'to pickle' or 'to preserve,' and condīmentum named the substances — salt, vinegar, mustard — that kept food from rotting. The shift from preservation to flavour enhancement happened so gradually that the word absorbed both meanings without strain. English borrowed condiment through Old French in the 15th century, by which time the flavouring sense was dominant. The Latin verb may derive from con- ('together') and -dere ('to put'), suggesting the original sense was 'to put together' — to assemble a prepared dish. Italian condimento still covers a wider range, including olive oil and dressings that English speakers might not call condiments.