SCENT • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Scent

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noun

Scent n.

That which, issuing from a body, affects the olfactory organs of animals; odor; smell; as, the scent of an orange, or of a rose; the scent of musk. "With lavish hand diffuses scents ambrosial."

Specifically, the odor left by an animal on the ground in passing over it; as, dogs find or lose the scent; hence, course of pursuit; track of discovery. "He gained the observations of innumerable ages, and traveled upon the same scent into Ethiopia."

The power of smelling; the sense of smell; as, a hound of nice scent; to divert the scent.

verb

Scent v. t. (past & past part. scented; pres. part. scenting)

To perceive by the olfactory organs; to smell; as, to scent game, as a hound does. "Methinks I scent the morning air."

To imbue or fill with odor; to perfume. "Balm from a silver box distilled around, Shall all bedew the roots, and scent the sacred ground."

Scent v. i.

To have a smell. (Obs.) "Thunderbolts... do scent strongly of brimstone."

To hunt animals by means of the sense of smell.

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Etymology of 'Scent'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Scent" Quotes from Famous Books

... varieties of strange and gorgeously tinted flowers, as I laboriously climbed the steep side of the ravine, after crossing the brook, on my way to the more open country beyond. But this soon changed upon my emerging from the ravine, giving place to the more healthful and invigorating scent of the salt sea breeze that came sweeping over the island and roared among the lofty branches of the trees, among the trunks of which I now wound ...

— Overdue - The Story of a Missing Ship • Harry Collingwood

... sight, save a patrol which stops us and examines our papers. It seems difficult to realize that a great battle is impending. No scene could be more peaceful. In the marshes, frogs are croaking in loud unison. The scent of new-mown hay is wafted ...

— The Story of the Great War, Volume V (of 8) • Francis J. (Francis Joseph) Reynolds, Allen L. (Allen Leon)

... loud rush or the low crooning of water, and over every wall comes the scent of jasmine and rose. Far off, from the red purgatory between the walls, sounds the savage thrum-thrum of a negro orgy, here all is peace and perfume. A minaret springs up between the roofs like a palm, and from its balcony the little white figure bends over and ...

— In Morocco • Edith Wharton

... to tell the plain facts to you—the obtaining for its profit the ideas, inventions and discoveries of others. In short, we, who used to despise mental fruits, see that it is the most profitable of trades to work genius. As soon as we see, learn, or even scent that an important thing is being produced anywhere in the world, we hurry to the spot and by one means or another—money, cunning, persuasion, main force, if needs must, we make ourselves master of what we must have if we mean to be ...

— The Son of Clemenceau • Alexandre (fils) Dumas

... circumstances, he requested that the shoes and stockings last worn by the child should be brought to him. He then ordered his dog to smell them; and taking the house for a centre, described a semicircle of a quarter of a mile, urging the dog to find out the scent. They had not gone far before the sagacious animal began to bark. The track was followed up by the dog with still louder barking, till at last, darting off at full speed, he was lost in the thickness of the woods. Half an hour after they saw him returning. His countenance ...

— Stories about Animals: with Pictures to Match • Francis C. Woodworth

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