1650s, "cause to produce saliva;" intransitive sense from 1680s, from Latin salivatus, past participle of salivare, from saliva (see saliva). Figurative use in reference to anticipation by 1965. Related: Salivated; salivating.
We salivated when he described the great meal
salinity
Salisbury steak
Salish
saliva
salivary
salivate
salivation
Salk
sallow
sally
Sally