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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

incense en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • /ˈɪnsɛn(t)s/
  • (US) audio
  • ĭn'sĕns

Etymology

From Middle English encens, from Old French encens (“sweet-smelling substance”) from Late Latin incensum (“burnt incense”, literally “something burnt”), neuter past participle of incendō (“to set on fire”). Compare incendiary. Doublet of incienso. Displaced native Old English rēcels.

Meanings

  1. (countable, uncountable) Biotic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt, often used in religious rites or for aesthetic reasons.
  2. (countable, uncountable) The fragrant smoke released by burning incense (sense 1).
    • When the folding-doors were on such solemn occasions thrown open, and the new Abbot appeared on the threshold in full-blown dignity, with ring and mitre, and dalmatique and crosier, his hoary standard-bearers and his juvenile dispensers of incense preceding him, and the venerable train of monks behind him, with all besides which could announce the supreme authority to which he was now raised, his appearance was a signal for the magnificent jubilate to rise from the organ and music-loft, and to be joined by the corresponding bursts of Alleluiah from the whole assembled congregation. 1820, [Walter Scott], chapter XIII, in The Abbot. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne & Co.] for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; and for Archibald Constable and Company, and John Ballantyne, […], →OCLC, page 281:
  3. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) Homage; adulation.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
incenses Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

incensive · incensement · incense cedar · incensy · incense tree · incense stick · incenser · incenseless · incense burner · incensole · incense boat · incensation

Relateds

frankincense

Translations (150)

fa بخور (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · pt incenso (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · lo ກຳຍານ (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · la thūs (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · ru ла́дан (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · fo roykilsi (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · ak ɔhyehwam (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · ms kemenyan (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · it olibano (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · de Räuchwerk (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · tl astangi (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · vi hương (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · ace keumeunyan (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · cu кадило (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · uk ку́риво (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · tg бухур (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · rgn incéns (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · nb røykelse (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · nrf enchens (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · ak wisihwam (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · cu ѳѵмїамъ (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · cmn(material burnt for fragrant smoke) · cu темьꙗнъ (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · yua poom (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · id kemenyan (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · tl insenso (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · tr tütsü (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · ta ஊதுபத்தி (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · lv vīraks (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · uk фіміа́м (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · fur incens (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · sc timonza (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · fr encens (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · orv кадило (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · az buxur (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · pms incens (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · xpu 𐤒𐤈𐤓𐤕 (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · cy arogldarth (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · sv rökelse (virak c) (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · sh та̀мјан (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · he קטורת (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · ast inciensu (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · la thȳmiāma (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · pl kadzidło (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · km ធូប (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · arz بخور (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · mt inċens (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · lt smilkalai (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · wo cuuraay (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · fa عود (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · sh tàmjan (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · ota بخور (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · mk благомирис (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · ru темья́н (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · lo ທູບ (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · sk kadidlo (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · mn ᠰᠠᠩ (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · da virak (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · sq temjan (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · de Weihrauch (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · mk темјан (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · nb røkelse (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · hu füstölő (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · sc timanza (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · vi nhang (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · fi suitsuke (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · uz ladan (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · bo སྤོས (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · ms setanggi (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · nb virak (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · et viiruk (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · egy nTr-sn-T:r:N33A (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · be кадзі́ла (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · it incenso (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · uk ла́дан (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · ur بخور (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · lmo incens (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · ar بُخُور (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · hy խունկ (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · es sahumerio (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · yue(material burnt for fragrant smoke) · th กำยาน (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · ga túis (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · mnb dupa (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · pon warpwohmwahu (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · mn сан (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · co encensu (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · yi קטורת (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · es sahúmo (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · be фімія́м (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · pi dhūpa (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · cs kadidlo (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · ota كونلك (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · mt bħur (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · ja 薫香 (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · he קְטֹרֶת (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · om qayya (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · orv темьанъ (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · da røgelse (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · hy ծխանելիք (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · ko(material burnt for fragrant smoke) · th ธูป (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · sw ubani (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · sa धूप (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · cy thus (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · pdt Ruakstoff (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · sq kem (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · ro tămâie (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · pon insens (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · tft dupa (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · ajp بخور (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · nn røykjelse (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · io incenso (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · sl kadilo (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · mi whakakakara (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · ar بَخُور (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · hi धूपबत्ती (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · ru фимиа́м (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · eo incenso (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · orv ладанъ (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · grc θυμίαμα (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · rgn inzéns (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · ka საკმეველი (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · nl wierook (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · uk кади́ло (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · be ла́дан (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · id dupa (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · kk ладан (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · is reykelsi (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · tl dupa (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · haw heona (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · my အမွှေး (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · el λιβάνι (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · lij incénso (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · co incensu (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · es incienso (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · ang rēcels (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · ru кади́ло (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · ja(material burnt for fragrant smoke) · sc timagna (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · hi अगरबत्ती (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · nn virak (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · pdt Weiruak (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · ms dupa (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · gl incenso (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · bn ধূপ (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · la suffīmen (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · dz སྤོས (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · ca encens (material burnt for fragrant smoke) · bg тамя́н (material burnt for fragrant smoke)

incense en · VERB

Pronunciation

  • /ˈɪnsɛn(t)s/
  • (US) audio
  • (US) audio
  • ĭn'sĕns
  • ĭnsĕns'
  • /ɪnˈsɛns/

Etymology

From Middle English encens, from Old French encens (“sweet-smelling substance”) from Late Latin incensum (“burnt incense”, literally “something burnt”), neuter past participle of incendō (“to set on fire”). Compare incendiary. Doublet of incienso. Displaced native Old English rēcels.

Meanings

  1. (obsolete, transitive) To set on fire; to inflame; to kindle; to burn.
    • Twelve Trojan princes wait on thee, and labour to incense / Thy glorious heap of funeral. [1611?], Homer, “(please specify |book=I to XXIV)”, in Geo[rge] Chapman, transl., The Iliads of Homer Prince of Poets. […], London: […] Nathaniell Butter, →OCLC; republished as The Iliads of Homer, Prince of Poets, […], new edition, volume (please specify the book number), London: Charles Knight and Co., […], 1843, →OCLC:
  2. (transitive) To anger; to infuriate.
    • I think it would incense him to learn the truth.
    • Few political careers start when people are in their 70s, but Hendy is actually relishing it, although he is incensed sometimes by the pointlessness of the posturing by the opposition, which keeps him up late. "The bit I don't like is getting home at 0100 or 0200 in the morning because the opposition have been fruitlessly arguing for a long time." 2025 October 1, Christian Wolmar, “Rail Minister at the heart of rail reform”, in RAIL, number 1045, page 35:
    • His Grace the Duke of Wellington was incensed greatly, and as badge of dishonor ordered that a strip of cherry colored ribbon be sewed on their trowser seams. 1909 December 1, “‘Traditions’”, in Fresno Herald and Democrat, last edition, volume XLI, number 1008, Fresno, Calif., →OCLC, page 4, column 2:
  3. (archaic, transitive) To incite; to stimulate.
  4. (transitive) To offer incense to.
    • And after this Almachius hastily Bad his ministres fecchen openly Cecile, so that she mighte in his presence Doon sacrifyce, and Iupiter encense. And after this, Almachius hastily Ordered his ministers to fetch publicly Cecile, so that she might in his presence Do sacrifice and burn incense to Jupiter. late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Second Nun's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 410-413
  5. (transitive) To perfume with, or as with, incense.
    • Neither, for the future, shall any man or woman, self-styled noble, be incensed,—foolishly fumigated with incense, in Church; as the wont has been. 1837, Thomas Carlyle, The French Revolution: A History […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Chapman and Hall, →OCLC, (please specify the book or page number):
    • To haue her bound, incenſed with wanton ſweetes, / Her vaines fild hie with heating delicates, / […] / O Ithaca can chaſteſt Penelope hold out. c. 1603 (date written), Iohn Marston, The Malcontent, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for William Aspley, […], published 1604, →OCLC, Act III, scene ii:
    • The priests solemnly incensed the girl who personated the goddess. 1911, James George Frazer, The Golden Bough, volume 9, page 294:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
incensed Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
incensed Tense=Past lexicographic
incenses Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
incensing Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic

Deriveds

incensory · reincense · incensor

Synonyms

put out · ignite · get someone's dander up · get someone's goat · drive · nark · abet · burn up · spark off · fume · piss off · egg on · incite · oblige · instigate · raise someone's shag · incense · whet · stimulate · push · foment · rankle · impel · offend · cross · goad · inflame · move · provoke · make someone's blood boil · promote · engender · light · musk · alight · make angry · anger · encourage · spur · madden · make someone see red · tempt · odorize · obligate · rile · light a fire under · set afire · prompt · cheese off · invoke · get · lash · spur on · provoke · cheer · stir · aflame · inflame · set fire · inflame · rub the wrong way · get someone's Irish up · induce · fuel · set alight · torch · sting · fire · rattle someone's cage · actuate · put someone's back up · conflagrate · set ablaze · set off · evoke · urge · provoke · ruffle some feathers · embitter · rouse · bring about · fire up · motivate · outrage · get to · set on fire · goose · awrath · stoke · aromatize · gall · cense · roil · inflame · grill · motive · set off · aggravate · set aflame · honk off · tick off · draw · ignite · envenom · fume · raise someone's hackles · excite · steam · affront · light up · inflame · infuriate · stir up · enkindle · whip up · set up someone's birse · scent · antagonize · send · get one's back up

Translations (31)

ru разъяри́ть (anger, infuriate) · ru серди́ть (anger, infuriate) · nl vertoornen (anger, infuriate) · es encolerizar (anger, infuriate) · bg вбеся́вам (anger, infuriate) · el εξοργίζω (anger, infuriate) · ru взбеси́ть (anger, infuriate) · es enchilar (anger, infuriate) · pl rozdrażniać (anger, infuriate) · es incensar (transitive: to offer incense to / to perfume with, or as with, incense) · de empören (anger, infuriate) · ru разгне́вать (anger, infuriate) · es indignar (anger, infuriate) · pl wyperfumować kadzidłem (transitive: to offer incense to / to perfume with, or as with, incense) · bg разяря́вам (anger, infuriate) · es incensariar (transitive: to offer incense to / to perfume with, or as with, incense) · de aufbringen (anger, infuriate) · es enfurecer (anger, infuriate) · nl de woede opwekken van (anger, infuriate) · fi raivostuttaa (anger, infuriate) · ru беси́ть (anger, infuriate) · pl rozzłościć (anger, infuriate) · de erzürnen (anger, infuriate) · ru разозли́ть (anger, infuriate) · es sahumar (transitive: to offer incense to / to perfume with, or as with, incense) · ru разъяря́ть (anger, infuriate) · ru рассерди́ть (anger, infuriate) · he הִקְטִיר (transitive: to offer incense to / to perfume with, or as with, incense) · pl rozzłaszczać (anger, infuriate) · pl rozdrażnić (anger, infuriate) · pl perfumować kadzidłem (transitive: to offer incense to / to perfume with, or as with, incense)