INCENSE • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Incense

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/ɪnsˈɛns/ /ˈɪnsˌɛns/ Listen

noun

Incense n.

1.

The perfume or odors exhaled from spices and gums when burned in celebrating religious rites or as an offering to some deity. "A thick cloud of incense went up."

2.

The materials used for the purpose of producing a perfume when burned, as fragrant gums, spices, frankincense, etc. "Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon."

3.

Also used figuratively. "Or heap the shrine of luxury and pride, With incense kindled at the Muse's flame."

Incense tree, the name of several balsamic trees of the genus Bursera (or Icica) mostly tropical American. The gum resin is used for incense. In Jamaica the Chrysobalanus Icaco, a tree related to the plums, is called incense tree.

Incense wood, the fragrant wood of the tropical American tree Bursera heptaphylla.

verb

Incense v. t. (past & past part. incensed; pres. part. incensing)

1.

To set on fire; to inflame; to kindle; to burn. (Obs.) "Twelve Trojan princes wait on thee, and labor to incense Thy glorious heap of funeral."

2.

To inflame with anger; to enrage; to endkindle; to fire; to incite; to provoke; to heat; to madden. "The people are incensed him."

Synonyms: To enrage; exasperate; provoke; anger; irritate; heat; fire; instigate.

Incense v. t. (past & past part. incensed; pres. part. incensing)

1.

To offer incense to. See Incense. (Obs.)

2.

To perfume with, or as with, incense. "Incensed with wanton sweets."

See images of 'Incense'

Etymology of 'Incense'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Incense" Quotes from Famous Books

... a bench in the shady Zocalo, and contemplated the Palacio Nacional and the Cathedral in process of changing sides from Empire to Republic. Innumerable lanterns being hung along their massive outlines were for incense to a goddess restored. The Mexican eagle had prevailed over monarchial griffins, and held her serpent safely in the way of being throttled. The blunt homely visage of Don Benito Juarez, luxuriously framed, looked out from over the Palace entrance. It was a huge portrait, surrounded by the national ...

— The Missourian • Eugene P. (Eugene Percy) Lyle

... fuel. There was no coal there, so we laid in all the wood we could to try and reach Acapulco (here we could not buy any thing with our $5 gold pieces, but they were ready to sell for silver). The cholera had been there, they said, but had left. The priests had had a procession, and, with their incense boxes, had marched through the streets and driven it out. We took in all the wood we could get and started to make the port of Acapulco, the regular coaling port for all the steamers on that coast. It was Sunday P.M. We could raise fuel enough to make only four knots an hour. ...

— The Adventures of a Forty-niner • Daniel Knower

... a niggard hand That nearest Heaven has bade thee stand, The ark to touch and bear, With incense of pure heart's desire To heap the censer's sacred fire, The snow-white ...

— The Christian Year • Rev. John Keble

... heart bubbles forth with clear waters, to the time of this wonder-word Peace, From the chanting and preaching whereof ye who serve the white Christ never cease; And your curly, soft incense ascending enwraps my ...

— Ride to the Lady • Helen Gray Cone

... Tiphaine, the most beautiful woman of the official colony during the Restoration. Julliard followed commerce and literature; he maintained a stage line, and a journal christened "La Ruche," in which latter he burned incense to ...

— Repertory Of The Comedie Humaine, Complete, A -- Z • Anatole Cerfberr and Jules Franois Christophe

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