scent

[sent] /sɛnt/
noun
1.
a distinctive odor, especially when agreeable:
the scent of roses.
2.
an odor left in passing, by means of which an animal or person may be traced.
3.
a track or trail as or as if indicated by such an odor:
The dogs lost the scent and the prisoner escaped.
4.
perfume.
5.
the sense of smell:
a remarkably keen scent.
6.
small pieces of paper dropped by the hares in the game of hare and hounds.
verb (used with object)
7.
to perceive or recognize by or as if by the sense of smell:
to scent trouble.
8.
to fill with an odor; perfume.
verb (used without object)
9.
to hunt by the sense of smell, as a hound.
Origin
1325-75; (v.) earlier sent, Middle English senten < Middle French sentir to smell < Latin sentīre to feel; (noun) Middle English, derivative of the v. Cf. sense
Related forms
scentless, adjective
scentlessness, noun
nonscented, adjective
outscent, verb (used with object)
overscented, adjective
unscented, adjective
well-scented, adjective
Can be confused
cents, scents, sense.
Synonyms
1. See odor. 7. smell, sniff.
Examples from the web for scented
  • Thirty-two subjects were fed a green-colored, lavender-scented strawberry milk-an odd concoction designed to taste unique.
  • Finally, he eased out of the car, and took from me a large pot full of rose-scented holy water.
  • The debt that had piled up in the good years became oppressive once lenders scented trouble.
  • But it may have been simply that he had tried to book into the hotel, discovered it was full and for sale and scented a bargain.
  • The chef shows us the delicately-scented sesame oil in which he fries the battered seafood and vegetables.
  • The store's smell is now dominated by scented candles.
  • As he paid off old clients with money from new ones, the press scented criminal mischief afoot.
  • Great scented forests all along the shore, which now are gone.
  • To try a recipe for semolina cake with geranium-scented sugar syrup, known as harissa, click here.
  • On the other hand, specially scented premium soaps were an entrepreneurial godsend.
British Dictionary definitions for scented

scent

/sɛnt/
noun
1.
a distinctive smell, esp a pleasant one
2.
a smell left in passing, by which a person or animal may be traced
3.
a trail, clue, or guide
4.
an instinctive ability for finding out or detecting
5.
another word (esp Brit) for perfume
verb
6.
(transitive) to recognize or be aware of by or as if by the smell
7.
(transitive) to have a suspicion of; detect: I scent foul play
8.
(transitive) to fill with odour or fragrance
9.
(intransitive) (of hounds, etc) to hunt by the sense of smell
10.
to smell (at): the dog scented the air
Derived Forms
scented, adjective
scentless, adjective
scentlessness, noun
Word Origin
C14: from Old French sentir to sense, from Latin sentīre to feel; see sense
Word Origin and History for scented
adj.

1570s, "endowed with the power of smell;" 1740, "perfumed," past participle adjective from scent (v.).

scent

v.

late 14c., sent "to find the scent of," from Old French sentir "to feel, smell, touch, taste; realize, perceive; make love to," from Latin sentire " to feel, perceive, sense, discern, hear, see" (see sense (n.)).

Originally a hunting term. The -c- appeared 17c., perhaps by influence of ascent, descent, etc., or by influence of science. This was a tendency in early Modern English, cf. scythe, and also scite, scituate. Figurative use from 1550s. Transitive sense "impregnate with an odor, perfume" is from 1690s. Related: Scented; scenting.

n.

late 14c., "scent, smell, what can be smelled" (as a means of pursuit by a hound), from scent (v.). Almost always applied to agreeable odors.

Idioms and Phrases with scented

scent

see: throw off , def. 3.