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Webster 1913 Edition

Incense

In-cense′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Incensed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Incensing
.]
[L.
incensus
, p. p. of
incendere
; pref.
in-
in + root of
candere
to glow. See
Candle
.]
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.
Chapman.
2.
To inflame with anger; to enrage; to endkindle; to fire; to incite; to provoke; to heat; to madden.
Syn. – To enrage; exasperate; provoke; anger; irritate; heat; fire; instigate.

In′cense

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Incensed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Incensing
.]
[LL.
incensare
: cf. F.
encenser
. See
Incense
,
Noun.
]
1.
To offer incense to. See
Incense
.
[Obs.]
Chaucer.
2.
To perfume with, or as with, incense.
“Incensed with wanton sweets.”
Marston.

In′cense

,
Noun.
[OE.
encens
, F.
encens
, L.
incensum
, fr.
incensus
, p. p. of
incendere
to burn. See
Incense
to inflame.]
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.
Ezek. viii. 11.
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.
Lev. x. 1.
3.
Also used figuratively.
Or heap the shrine of luxury and pride,
With
incense
kindled at the Muse’s flame.
Gray.
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
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Incense

IN'CENSE

,
Noun.
in'cens. [L. incensum, burnt, from incendo, to burn.]
1.
Perfume exhaled by fire; the odors of spices and gums, burnt in religious rites, or as an offering to some deity.
A thick cloud of incense went up. Ezek. 8.
2.
The materials burnt for making perfumes. The incense used in the Jewish offerings was a mixture of sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum, and the gum of the frankincense tree.
Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein and put incense thereon. Lex.10.
3.
Acceptable prayers and praises. Mal.l.
4.
In the Materia Medica, a dry resinous substance known by the name of thus and olibanum.

IN'CENSE

,
Verb.
T.
in'cens. To perfume with incense. In the Romish church, it is the deacon's office to incense the officiating priest or prelate, and the choir.

Definition 2024

incense

incense

See also: incensé

English

Noun

incense ‎(countable and uncountable, plural incenses)

  1. A perfume used in the rites of various religions.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

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

  1. (transitive) To anger or infuriate.
    I think it would incense him to learn the truth.
  2. (archaic) To incite, stimulate.
  3. (transitive) To offer incense to.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Chaucer to this entry?)
  4. (transitive) To perfume with, or as with, incense.
    • Marston
      Incensed with wanton sweetes.
    • 1837 Thomas Carlyle, The French Revolution: A History
      Neither, for the future, shall any man or woman, self-styled noble, be incensed, — foolishly fumigated with incense, in Church; as the wont has been.
  5. (obsolete) To set on fire; to inflame; to kindle; to burn.
    • Chapman
      Twelve Trojan princes wait on thee, and labour to incense / Thy glorious heap of funeral.

Translations

Latin

Participle

incense

  1. vocative masculine singular of incensus

References

Spanish

Verb

incense

  1. First-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of incensar.
  2. Formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of incensar.
  3. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted?) present subjunctive form of incensar.
  4. Formal second-person singular (usted) imperative form of incensar.

Etymology

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.

Pronunciation

  • Noun:
    • enPR: ĭn'sĕns, IPA(key): /ˈɪnsɛns/
  • Verb:
    • enPR: ĭnsĕns', IPA(key): /ɪnˈsɛns/

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