incense

in·cense

Use incense in a sentence

Several sticks of burning incense.

noun

The definition of incense is a substance with a pleasant odor when burned, generally used for smoke or fragrance.
1. An example of incense is a burning gum used in a religious ceremony.

verb

Incense is defined as to make someone very mad.
An example of incense is to make a person very angry by cheating them on a business deal.

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MLA Style

"incense." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 15 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/INCENSE>.

APA Style

incense. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/INCENSE

incense

any of various substances, as gums or resins, producing a pleasant odor when burned: used in some religious ceremonies
the smoke or fragrance from such a substance
any pleasant odor
pleasing attention, praise, or admiration

Origin of incense

Middle English encens from Old French from Late Latin incensum, incense from neuter of Classical Latin incensus, past participle of incendere, to kindle, inflame from in-, in, on + candere, to burn, shine: see candescent

transitive verb

-·censed·, -·cens·ing

to make fragrant with or as with incense; perfume
to burn or offer incense to

to burn incense

transitive verb

-·censed′, -·cens′ing

to make very angry; fill with wrath; enrage

Origin of incense

Middle English encensen from Old French incenser from Classical Latin incensus: see incense

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Link to this page

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MLA Style

"incense." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 15 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/INCENSE>.

APA Style

incense. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/INCENSE

incense

transitive verb

in·censed, in·cens·ing, in·cens·es

To cause to be extremely angry; infuriate.

Origin of incense

Middle English encensen from Old French incenser from Late Latin incēnsāre to sacrifice, burn from Latin incēnsus past participle of incendere to set on fire ; see kand- in Indo-European roots.

noun

a. An aromatic substance, such as wood or a gum, that is burned to produce a pleasant odor.
b. The smoke or odor produced by the burning of such a substance.
A pleasant smell.

transitive verb

in·censed, in·cens·ing, in·cens·es

To perfume with incense.
To burn incense to (a deity, for example) as a ritual offering.

Origin of incense

Middle English encens from Old French from Latin incēnsum from neuter past participle of incendere to set on fire ; see kand- in Indo-European roots.

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"incense." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 15 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/INCENSE>.

APA Style

incense. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/INCENSE

Noun

(countable and uncountable, plural incenses)

A perfume used in the rites of various religions.

Verb

(third-person singular simple present incenses, present participle incensing, simple past and past participle incensed)

To anger or infuriate.
I think it would incense him to learn the truth.
(archaic) To incite, stimulate.
To offer incense to.
To perfume with, or as with, incense.

Origin

From Old French encens (“sweet-smelling substance”) from Late Latin incensum (“burnt incense”, literally “something burnt”), neuter past participle of incendō (“I set on fire”). Compare incendiary.

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.