incense1

[in-sens] /ˈɪn sɛns/
noun
1.
an aromatic gum or other substance producing a sweet odor when burned, used in religious ceremonies, to enhance a mood, etc.
2.
the perfume or smoke arising from such a substance when burned.
3.
any pleasant perfume or fragrance.
4.
homage or adulation.
verb (used with object), incensed, incensing.
5.
to perfume with incense.
6.
to burn incense for.
verb (used without object), incensed, incensing.
7.
to burn or offer incense.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English < Late Latin incēnsum, literally, something kindled, neuter of incēnsus (past participle of incendere to set on fire), equivalent to incend- (see incendiary) + -tus past participle suffix; replacing Middle English ansens, ensenz < Old French < Late Latin as above

incense2

[in-sens] /ɪnˈsɛns/
verb (used with object), incensed, incensing.
1.
to inflame with wrath; make angry; enrage.
Origin
1400-50; late Middle English incensen < Latin incēnsus (see incense1); replacing Middle English encensen < Anglo-French < Latin, as above
Related forms
incensement, noun
Synonyms
anger, exasperate, provoke, irritate. See enrage.
Examples from the web for incense
  • Thick gray smoke and the smell of burning incense would have filled the air.
  • The teacher flashes a small laser beam though smoke wafting up from a stick of incense.
  • It was also burned as an incense to smoke away evil spirits from one place to another.
  • The shaman inhaled the incense smoke and flicked flower petals into the tropical air.
  • incense is a material that creates a smell when it is burned.
  • Among offences against the senses, scents are not the only ones to incense.
  • Don't light the resin directly, as you would with cone or stick incense.
  • Wack burned incense in his office and spoke in riddles and parables.
  • The suq also sells incense in the form of wood, crystal, rock and compressed powder.
  • Cloud of incense and the glitter of candles were prominent features in the pagan temples.
British Dictionary definitions for incense

incense1

/ˈɪnsɛns/
noun
1.
any of various aromatic substances burnt for their fragrant odour, esp in religious ceremonies
2.
the odour or smoke so produced
3.
any pleasant fragrant odour; aroma
4.
(rare) homage or adulation
verb
5.
to burn incense in honour of (a deity)
6.
(transitive) to perfume or fumigate with incense
Derived Forms
incensation, noun
Word Origin
C13: from Old French encens, from Church Latin incensum, from Latin incendere to kindle

incense2

/ɪnˈsɛns/
verb
1.
(transitive) to enrage greatly
Derived Forms
incensement, noun
Word Origin
C15: from Latin incensus set on fire, from incendere to kindle
Word Origin and History for incense
n.

late 13c., from Old French encens "sweet-smelling substance," from Late Latin incensum (nominative incensus) "burnt incense," literally "something burnt," neuter past participle of Latin incendere "set on fire" (see incendiary).

v.

"make angry," early 15c., from Middle French incenser, from Latin incensare, frequentative of Latin incendere "set on fire" (see incendiary). A figurative use of the word used literally in incense (n.). Related: Incensed.

"to offer incense, perfume with incense," c.1300, from Old French encenser, from encens (see incense (n.)).

incense in the Bible

a fragrant composition prepared by the "art of the apothecary." It consisted of four ingredients "beaten small" (Ex. 30:34-36). That which was not thus prepared was called "strange incense" (30:9). It was offered along with every meat-offering; and besides was daily offered on the golden altar in the holy place, and on the great day of atonement was burnt by the high priest in the holy of holies (30:7, 8). It was the symbol of prayer (Ps. 141:1,2; Rev. 5:8; 8:3, 4).