Disagreeable to taste, smell, or moral sensibilities; morally offensive or disreputable.
From un- (not) plus savory, which comes from Old French savourer meaning 'to taste'. Originally referred only to unpleasant tastes, but by the 16th century extended to describe morally distasteful behavior or people.
The evolution from 'bad taste' to 'bad character' shows how deeply we connect food experiences with moral judgment. We still use taste metaphors for ethics: 'tasteless behavior', 'a bad taste in one's mouth', or 'leaving a sour taste'. Our moral vocabulary is surprisingly flavored by our literal taste experiences.
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