GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
last match results
Found 3 definitions
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Smell (smĕl), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smelled (?), Smelt (); p. pr. & vb. n. Smelling.] [OE. smellen, smillen, smullen; cf. LG. smellen, smelen, smölen, schmelen, to smoke, to reek, D. smeulen to smolder, and E. smolder. Cf. Smell, n.]
1. To perceive by the olfactory nerves, or organs of smell; to have a sensation of, excited through the nasal organs when affected by the appropriate materials or qualities; to obtain the scent of; as, “to smell a rose; to smell perfumes”.
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2. To detect or perceive, as if by the sense of smell; to scent out; -- often with out. “I smell a device.” Shak.
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Can you smell him out by that? Shak.
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3. To give heed to. [Obs.]
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From that time forward I began to smellthe Word of God, and forsook the school doctors. Latimer.
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To smell a rat, to have a sense of something wrong, not clearly evident; to have reason for suspicion. [Colloq.] -- To smell out, to find out by sagacity. [Colloq.]
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Smell, v. i.
1. To affect the olfactory nerves; to have an odor or scent; -- often followed by of; as, “to smell of smoke, or of musk”.
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2. To have a particular tincture or smack of any quality; to savor; as, “a report smells of calumny”.
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Praises in an enemy are superfluous, or smell of craft. Milton.
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3. To exercise the sense of smell. Ex. xxx. 38.
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4. To exercise sagacity. Shak.
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Smell, n. [OE. smel, smil, smul, smeol. See Smell, v. t.] (Physiol.)
1. The sense or faculty by which certain qualities of bodies are perceived through the instrumentally of the olfactory nerves. See Sense.
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2. The quality of any thing or substance, or emanation therefrom, which affects the olfactory organs; odor; scent; fragrance; perfume; as, “the smell of mint”.
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Breathing the smell of field and grove. Milton.
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That which, above all others, yields the sweetest smell in the air, is the violent. Bacon.
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Syn. -- Scent; odor; perfume; fragrance.
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