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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

scent en · NOUN

Pronunciation

Etymology

From Middle English sent (noun) and senten (verb), from Old French sentir (“to feel, perceive, smell, sense”), from Latin sentiō, sentīre (“to feel, sense”). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sent- (“to feel”), and thus related to Saterland Frisian Sin (“sense”), West Frisian sin (“sense”), Dutch zin (“sense, meaning”), Low German Sinn (“sense”), Luxembourgish Sënn (“sense, perception”), German Sinn (“sense”). The -c- appeared in the 17th century, possibly by influence of ascent, descent, etc., or by influence of science.

Meanings

  1. (countable, uncountable) A distinctive smell.
    • hunger and thirst at once, / Powerful perswaders, quick’nd at the scent / Of that alluring fruit, 1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 586-588:
    • to breathe in / inhale a scent
    • to give off / release / exude a scent
    • the scent of flowers / of a skunk
    • The air is thick with the unexpected scent of rain. 2014, Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, chapter 32, in Dust, London: Granta Books, page 289:
    • Behind me the forest stood wrapped in mist, its scents still sleeping. 1973, Mary Stewart, The Hollow Hills, New York: William Morrow, Book 3, p. 357:
    • The scent of these arm-pits is aroma finer than prayer, 1892, Walt Whitman, “Song of Myself”, in Leaves of Grass […], Philadelphia, Pa.: David McKay, publisher, […], →OCLC, page 49:
  2. (countable, uncountable) A smell left by an animal that may be used for tracing.
    • The dogs picked up / caught the scent but then quickly lost it.
    • He […] twice to-day pick’d out the dullest scent; / Trust me, I take him for the better dog. c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
    • But see how the dogs puzzle about there. Come, Mr Frank, the scent’s cold; 1817 December 31 (indicated as 1818), [Walter Scott], Rob Roy. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co. […]; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC, page 151:
  3. (countable, uncountable) The sense of smell.
    • I believe the bloodhound has the best scent of all dogs.
    • Keen is the scent of the slaveholder; like the fangs of the rattlesnake, his malice retains its poison long; and, although it is now nearly seventeen years since I made my escape, it is well to be careful, in dealing with the circumstances relating to it. 1855, Frederick Douglass, chapter 21, in My Bondage and My Freedom. […], New York; Auburn, N.Y.: Miller, Orton & Mulligan […], →OCLC, part I (Life as a Slave), page 322:
    • His houndes espyde him where he was, and Blacksoote first of all / And Stalker speciall good of sent began aloud to call. 1567, Ovid, “The Third Booke”, in Arthur Golding, transl., The XV. Bookes of P. Ouidius Naso, Entytuled Metamorphosis, […], London: […] Willyam Seres […], →OCLC, folio 33, recto:
    • [I]nnumerable flowers, sweet to the scent and the eyes 1816 June – 1817 April/May (date written), [Mary Shelley], chapter V, in Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. […], volume II, London: […] [Macdonald and Son] for Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones, published 1 January 1818, →OCLC, page 76:
    • No man can taste the fruits of autumn while he is delighting his scent with the flowers of the spring: 1759, Samuel Johnson, chapter 29, in The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia, Philadelphia: Robert Bell, published 1768, page 113:
  4. (uncountable) A substance (usually liquid) created to provide a pleasant smell.
    • He was drowned in scent—fairly stunk with it, Captain Marlow. 1899 September – 1900 July, Joseph Conrad, chapter VI, in Lord Jim: A Tale, Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood and Sons, published 1900, →OCLC, page 66:
    • a scent shop
    • He took a clean handkerchief (a lovely one such as you couldn’t buy today) out of the little left-hand drawer and put a few drops of scent on it. 1955, C. S. Lewis, chapter 6, in The Magician’s Nephew, New York: HarperCollins, published 2010:
    • He went tripping away under a canvas umbrella, trailing the smell of cheap scent. 2014, Damon Galgut, chapter 6, in Arctic Summer, McClelland & Stewart, page 285:
    • a scent bazaar
    • He receives deputations from the bazaar, and they all chew betel nut and smear one another’s hands with scent. 1924 June 4, E[dward] M[organ] Forster, chapter 22, in A Passage to India, London: Edward Arnold & Co., →OCLC, part II (Caves), page 197:
  5. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) Any trail or trace that can be followed to find something or someone, such as the paper left behind in a paperchase.
    • The minister's off-hand remark put journalists on the scent of a cover-up.
    • Gullivant had to be firmly identified with Compton, the convict, in such a way as to bring the police hot on the scent. 1926, Nevil Shute, chapter 3, in Marazan, London: Cassell:
    • to pick up a scent / get scent of something
    • Mrs. Wilkins having […] by Accident, gotten a true Scent of the above Story […] failed not to satisfy herself thoroughly of all the Particulars, 1749, Henry Fielding, chapter V, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume I, London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book II, page 71:
    • Before marriage it is their business to please men; and after, with a few exceptions, they follow the same scent with all the persevering pertinacity of instinct. 1791 (date written), Mary Wollstonecraft, “Some Instances of the Folly which the Ignorance of Women Generates; with Concluding Reflections on the Moral Improvement that a Revolution in Female Manners may Naturally be Expected to Produce”, in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: With Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1792, →OCLC, page 435:
    • to throw / put someone off the scent
    • The tip put the detectives on a false scent / the wrong scent.
  6. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) Sense, perception.
    • A fit false dreame, that can delude the sleepers sent. 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, page 15:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
scents Number=Plur lexicographic
sent alternative, obsolete lexicographic

Deriveds

scentful · afterscent · scented · scent-bottle · false scent · scent gland · scentless · overscent · scent pad · scent hound · underscent · hay-scented fern · forescent · information scent · scentmaker · scentscape · scent mark

Relateds

olfactory

Synonyms

aftershave · bouquet · redolence · odor · aroma · cologne · eau de toilette · perfume · nosegay · smell · toilet water · fragrance · perfume · olfaction

Translations (157)

grc ὀσμή (distinctive odour or smell) · fi haju (odour left by animal) · ru за́пах (distinctive odour or smell) · gl cheiro (distinctive odour or smell) · fi tuoksu (distinctive odour or smell) · acw ريحة (distinctive odour or smell) · pl ślad (figuratively: any traces that can be followed) · fi vihi (figuratively: any traces that can be followed) · tpi smel (distinctive odour or smell) · ja 香り (perfume) · nb duft (distinctive odour or smell) · ja 臭い (odour left by animal) · ota اید (distinctive odour or smell) · ru след (figuratively: any traces that can be followed) · sv spår (figuratively: any traces that can be followed) · es esencia (distinctive odour or smell) · bn গন্ধ (distinctive odour or smell) · sv vittring (figuratively: any traces that can be followed) · egy s-T:Aa2 (distinctive odour or smell) · hi गंध (odour left by animal) · es fragancia (perfume) · tr nefha (perfume) · ru обоня́ние (sense of smell) · ar رَائِحَة (distinctive odour or smell) · mi kakara (distinctive odour or smell) · es perfume (perfume) · pl zapach (odour left by animal) · af reuksintuig (sense of smell) · it odore (distinctive odour or smell) · hy բուրմունք (distinctive odour or smell) · fi hajuaisti (sense of smell) · sh мирис (distinctive odour or smell) · ba еҫ (distinctive odour or smell) · sv luktsinne (sense of smell) · ca olor (distinctive odour or smell) · fi vainu (odour left by animal) · el ντορός (odour left by animal) · el μυρωδιά (distinctive odour or smell) · ja 手がかり (figuratively: any traces that can be followed) · fi hajuvesi (perfume) · pl perfumy (perfume) · nl reukvermogen (sense of smell) · hu szag (odour left by animal) · bg миризма (distinctive odour or smell) · be пах (distinctive odour or smell) · ru нюх (sense of smell) · fa عطر (distinctive odour or smell) · cs vůně (distinctive odour or smell) · pt fragrância (perfume) · es olfato (sense of smell) · gl recendo (distinctive odour or smell) · af spoor (figuratively: any traces that can be followed) · ja 嗅覚 (sense of smell) · pl zapach (distinctive odour or smell) · ar أَرِيج (perfume) · el άρωμα (perfume) · sv vittring (odour left by animal) · af reuk (distinctive odour or smell) · nl geur (odour left by animal) · nl geur (perfume) · ota عطر (perfume) · hu illatszer (perfume) · ko 냄새 (distinctive odour or smell) · cmn 氣味 /气味 (distinctive odour or smell) · de Parfum (perfume) · om foolii (distinctive odour or smell) · da lugtesans (sense of smell) · he ריח (distinctive odour or smell) · de Geruch (distinctive odour or smell) · sv doft (distinctive odour or smell) · pl trop (figuratively: any traces that can be followed) · fi vainu (sense of smell) · vi mùi (distinctive odour or smell) · hi गंध (distinctive odour or smell) · fi hajujälki (odour left by animal) · km ក្លិន (distinctive odour or smell) · el οσμή (distinctive odour or smell) · ja 匂い (distinctive odour or smell) · ga boladh (distinctive odour or smell) · fi jäljet (figuratively: any traces that can be followed) · pt cheiro (odour left by animal) · sw harufu (distinctive odour or smell) · bg парфюм (perfume) · ja 香り (distinctive odour or smell) · nl geur (distinctive odour or smell) · pt pista (figuratively: any traces that can be followed) · de Duft (distinctive odour or smell) · af parfuum (perfume) · pdt Jeroch (distinctive odour or smell) · bg мирис (distinctive odour or smell) · pt odor (distinctive odour or smell) · pt aroma (distinctive odour or smell) · fi haju (figuratively: any traces that can be followed) · mi tīare (distinctive odour or smell) · tr ıtır (perfume) · cmn 氣味 /气味 (odour left by animal) · fa طیب (perfume) · af reukwater (perfume) · fr odorat (sense of smell) · sv doft (perfume) · sl vonj (distinctive odour or smell) · hu szaglás (sense of smell) · la odor (distinctive odour or smell) · tt ис (distinctive odour or smell) · pl woń (distinctive odour or smell) · gl cheirume (distinctive odour or smell) · tr ıtır (distinctive odour or smell) · tr rayiha (perfume) · nl reuk (distinctive odour or smell) · ca esència (distinctive odour or smell) · cmn 香味 (perfume) · cy aroglau (distinctive odour or smell) · ru духи́ (perfume) · es aroma (distinctive odour or smell) · uk за́пах (distinctive odour or smell) · sh miris (distinctive odour or smell) · ro miros (distinctive odour or smell) · mrw bao (distinctive odour or smell) · fr odeur (distinctive odour or smell) · ru след (odour left by animal) · fi haju (distinctive odour or smell) · de Fährte (figuratively: any traces that can be followed) · de Parfüm (perfume) · es olor (distinctive odour or smell) · nl spoor (figuratively: any traces that can be followed) · hi परिमल (perfume) · ru чутьё (sense of smell) · es fragancia (distinctive odour or smell) · hy բույր (distinctive odour or smell) · th กลิ่น (distinctive odour or smell) · be за́пах (distinctive odour or smell) · de Spur (odour left by animal) · af reuk (odour left by animal) · hu illat (distinctive odour or smell) · nl parfum (perfume) · txb were (distinctive odour or smell) · hi महक (distinctive odour or smell) · ca olfacte (sense of smell) · ms bau (distinctive odour or smell) · pt perfume (perfume) · cmn 嗅覺 /嗅觉 (sense of smell) · hu parfüm (perfume) · fi jälki (figuratively: any traces that can be followed) · el όσφρηση (sense of smell) · pt olfato (sense of smell) · ja 臭い (distinctive odour or smell) · ar رَوَائِح (distinctive odour or smell) · pt cheiro (distinctive odour or smell) · fi tuoksu (perfume) · bg обоняние (sense of smell) · bg следа (figuratively: any traces that can be followed) · cy persawr (distinctive odour or smell) · pl zapach (perfume) · ota عطر (distinctive odour or smell) · cmn 香水 (perfume) · got 𐌳𐌰𐌿𐌽𐍃 (distinctive odour or smell) · sk vôňa (distinctive odour or smell)

scent en · VERB

Pronunciation

Etymology

From Middle English sent (noun) and senten (verb), from Old French sentir (“to feel, perceive, smell, sense”), from Latin sentiō, sentīre (“to feel, sense”). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sent- (“to feel”), and thus related to Saterland Frisian Sin (“sense”), West Frisian sin (“sense”), Dutch zin (“sense, meaning”), Low German Sinn (“sense”), Luxembourgish Sënn (“sense, perception”), German Sinn (“sense”). The -c- appeared in the 17th century, possibly by influence of ascent, descent, etc., or by influence of science.

Meanings

  1. (transitive) To detect the scent of; to discern by the sense of smell.
    • The hounds scented the fox in the woods.
    • Why, Maggie could scent a fire before it started, almost. 1988, Anne Tyler, Breathing Lessons, Penguin, Part 3, Chapter 2, p. 279:
    • methinks I scent the morning air. c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v]:
    • if she had scented danger in the air, as a dog scents the presence of some creature unseen, her alarm could not have displayed itself more suddenly 1860, Wilkie Collins, “The Woman in White”, in London, volume 3, Sampson Low, Son, & Co., page 334:
  2. (ambitransitive) To inhale in order to detect the scent of (something).
    • One night he sprang from sleep with a start, eager-eyed, nostrils quivering and scenting, 1903, Jack London, chapter 7, in The Call of the Wild, New York: Macmillan, page 201:
    • I paused to scent the breeze as I entered the valley. 1899, W. E. B. Du Bois, “A Negro Schoolmaster in the New South”, in The Atlantic Monthly, volume 83, page 103:
  3. (figuratively, transitive) To have a suspicion of; to detect the possibility of (something).
    • I scented trouble when I saw them running down the hill towards me.
    • Cope seemed to scent a challenge and accepted it. 1919, Henry Blake Fuller, chapter 11, in Bertram Cope’s Year, Chicago: R.F. Seymour, page 105:
    • A mysterious scene to me then—yet I scented that there was something momentous about it, though I could not tell what. 1978, Lawrence Durrell, chapter 1, in Livia, London: Faber and Faber, page 48:
  4. (transitive) To impart an odour to, to cause to have a particular smell.
    • […] the air […] was scented, not disagreeably, by the chips and shavings of the long-shore boat-builders, and mast oar and block makers. 1860 December – 1861 August, Charles Dickens, chapter VII, in Great Expectations […], volume III, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published October 1861, →OCLC, page 103:
    • Scent the air with burning sage before you begin your meditation.
    • Balm, from a Silver box distill’d around, / Shall all bedew the roots and scent the sacred ground; 1685, John Dryden, “The Epithalamium of Helen and Menelaus”, in Sylvæ, or, The Second Part of Poetical Miscellanies, London: Jacob Tonson, page 105:
    • [Vanilla pods] have a fat rich aromatic taste, and most agreeable flavour; on which account they are used to scent the chocolate. 1796, John Gabriel Stedman, chapter 25, in Narrative of a Five Years’ Expedition, volume 2, London: J. Johnson & J. Edwards, page 235:
    • You adorn yourself and scent yourself and sit with him in a comfortable way— 1999, Ahdaf Soueif, chapter 18, in The Map of Love, London: Bloomsbury, page 300:
  5. (intransitive, obsolete) To have a smell; (figuratively) to give an impression (of something).
    • though praying for a wounded Conscience may seemingly scent of pretended humility, it doth really and rankly savour of pride, 1647, Thomas Fuller, The Cause and Cure of a Wounded Conscience, London: John Williams, Dialogue 21, page 154:
    • Thunderbolts & lightnings […] do sent strongly of brimstone: 1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “[Book XXXV.] 15.”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the World. Commonly Called, The Naturall Historie of C. Plinius Secundus. […], 2nd tome, London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC, page 557:
    • 1647, John Fletcher and Philip Massinger, The False One, Act III, Scene 2, in Fifty Comedies and Tragedies, London: John Martyn et al., p. 325, I smell him now: fie, how the Knave perfumes him, / How strong he scents of Traitor?
  6. To hunt animals by means of the sense of smell.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
sent alternative, obsolete lexicographic
scents Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
scented Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
scented Tense=Past lexicographic
scenting Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic

Deriveds

outscent · scenter · scent out · scentable · overscent · forescent

Synonyms

smell · odorize · discern · smell · sense · perceive · perfume · sniff · detect · smell

Translations (33)

cmn 聞到 /闻到 (to detect the scent of) · ru па́хнуть (to impart an odour to) · es perfumar (to impart an odour to) · cmn 嗅 (to detect the scent of) · fi vainuta (to detect the scent of) · ja 嗅ぎ付ける (to detect the scent of) · pt perfumar (to impart an odour to) · ru почу́ять (to detect the scent of) · pl zwietrzyć (to detect the scent of) · es olorizar (to impart an odour to) · pl wypełniać wonią (to impart an odour to) · bg подушвам (to detect the scent of) · es oler (to detect the scent of) · ru чу́ять (to detect the scent of) · pt sentir cheiro (o) (to detect the scent of) · ru обоня́ть (to detect the scent of) · es aromar (to impart an odour to) · pl zwęszyć (to detect the scent of) · ms هيدو (to detect the scent of) · sv lukta (to detect the scent of) · bg ароматизирам (to impart an odour to) · hu kiszimatol (to detect the scent of) · hu szaglászik (to detect the scent of) · pt odorizar (to impart an odour to) · sv vittra (to detect the scent of) · nl ruiken (to detect the scent of) · de wittern (to detect the scent of) · fi hajustaa (to impart an odour to) · de parfümieren (to impart an odour to) · ja におわせる (to impart an odour to) · cmn 嗅到 (to detect the scent of) · cmn 嗅覺 /嗅觉 (to detect the scent of) · it fiutare (to detect the scent of)