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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

smell out en · VERB

Meanings

  1. (transitive) To find or locate by smell.
  2. (figuratively, transitive) To find out by prying.
    • for a Cut-purse; a good Nose is requisite also, to smell out worke for th' other Sences. c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv]:
    • I can smell out dishonesty from a mile away.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
smelled out Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
smelled out Tense=Past lexicographic
smelling out Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
smells out Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
smelt out Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
smelt out Tense=Past lexicographic

Deriveds

smeller out