scent

Alternative forms

• sent (obsolete)

Etymology

From c.1400 Old French sentir (“to feel, perceive, smell”), from Latin sentire "to feel, perceive, sense"; originally a hunting term, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sent- (“to feel”), and thus related to Dutch zin (“sense, meaning”), German Sinn (“sense”), Low German Sinn (“sense”), Luxembourgish Sënn (“sense, perception”), Saterland Frisian Sin (“sense”), West Frisian sin (“sense”). The -c- appeared in the 17th century, possibly by influence of ascent, descent, etc., or by influence of science.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɛnt
• enPR: sĕnt, IPA^(key): /sɛnt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Homophones: cent, sent

Noun

scent (plural scents)

1. A distinctive odour or smell.

   the scent of flowers

   the scent of a skunk

2. An odour left by an animal that may be used for tracing.

   The dogs lost the scent.

3. The sense of smell.

   I believe the bloodhound has the best scent of all dogs.

4. A perfume.
5. (figuratively) Any trail or trace that can be followed to find something or someone.
   • 1749, Henry Fielding, chapter I, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, London: A[ndrew] Millar, OCLC 928184292, book IV:

     To be plain, I much question whether the politician, who hath generally a good nose, hath not scented out somewhat of the utility of this practice.

6. (obsolete) Sense, perception.
   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene:

     A fit false dream, that can delude the sleeper's sent.

Verb

scent (third-person singular simple present scents, present participle scenting, simple past and past participle scented)

1. to detect the scent of

   The hounds scented the fox in the woods.

   • Shakespeare

     Methinks I scent the morning air.

2. to impart an odour to

   Scent the air with burning sage before you begin your meditation.

   • Dryden

     Balm from a silver box distilled around, / Shall all bedew the roots, and scent the sacred ground.

3. To have a smell.
   • Holland

     Thunderbolts […] do scent strongly of brimstone.

4. To hunt animals by means of the sense of smell.

Anagrams

• cents