incense

incense¹ aromatic substance burned

Pronunciation

• /ˈɪnsɛn(t)s/^[3]

Etymology

The aromatic substance is inherited from Middle English encens, also ansens,^[4][5][6] borrowed from Old French encens (12th century), also ancens,^[5][7][8][9] from Late Latin incēnsum (“incense, literally that which is set on fire”),^{[5][7][10][11]} the noun use of the neuter of incēnsus, past participle of incendō (“to set on fire”).^{[5][7][10][9]} The Latin verb is formed from in- (“in”) and the base of candeō (“to glow, shine”),^{[9][11][6][12]} from Proto-Indo-European *kand- (“to shine”).^[10] The Middle English form was altered to incense after Latin,^[5] and the shortened form cense also existed.^[5][4] The verb meaning to perfume with incense is inherited from Middle English encensen, borrowed from Old French encenser (11th century, in the “Chanson de Roland”),^{[5][7][13][4]} or formed from the noun;^[7][8][4] Medieval Latin incēnsō and incensare correspond to it.^[5][13]

Earliest recorded meaning

An aromatic gum or other plant product burned for its sweet smell: about 1290, in the South English Legendary, where the Magi bring gold and mirre and an-sens.^[5][4] Barnhart dates encens to about 1280,^[2][14] and Etymonline to the late 13th century.^[7] The verb, to perfume with incense, is first recorded in 1303, in Robert Mannyng's Handlyng Synne.^[5][4]

Semantic evolution

From the substance the word passed to its smoke or perfume, especially in worship (about 1380),^[5][7][6] in biblical language to the smoke of any burnt sacrifice (before 1340),^[5] and since Milton's Paradise Lost (1667) to any pleasant fragrance, as of flowers.^[5] The Wycliffite Bible of 1382 already used it figuratively for prayer, praise or flattery offered like a sacrifice;^[5] Johnson (1755) defined it as perfumes given off by fire in honour of a god.^[15] Chaucer used encens five times and Gower twice.^[16] The verb followed the noun: to burn or offer incense (about 1386, in Chaucer), to fill with any pleasant scent (about 1504), and in the early 18th century to flatter.^[5][9]

Timeline

• c. 1290 – an aromatic substance burned for its smell.^[5][4]
• 1303 – verb, to perfume with incense.^[5][4]
• before 1340 – the smoke of a burnt sacrifice, in biblical language.^[5]
• c. 1380 – the smoke or perfume of incense.^[5]
• 1382 – figurative, prayer, praise or flattery offered like a sacrifice.^[5]
• c. 1386 – verb, intransitive, to burn incense, in Chaucer.^[5]
• 1667 – any pleasant fragrance, in Milton's Paradise Lost.^[5]
• 1708 – verb, to flatter.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. A substance such as a gum, wood or spice that gives off a sweet smell when burned, especially in religious ceremonies: The monks lit incense before the altar.^[9][17][5]
2. The smoke or perfume given off by such a substance.^[9][17][5]
3. Any pleasant fragrance.^[9][17][5]
4. Praise or homage; flattery; now rare.^[17][9][5]

Verb

1. To perfume or fumigate with incense; to burn incense before a deity or image.^[9][17][5]
2. To burn incense, or to burn something as incense.^[9][5]
3. (archaic) To flatter.^[9][5]

Word family

• incense tree
• incense cedar

incense² to make very angry

Pronunciation

• /ɪnˈsɛns/^[3]

Etymology

The verb meaning to make angry is inherited from Middle English encensen, also incensen,^[2][4][5] borrowed from Middle French incenser,^{[5][2][9][6][12]} from Latin incēnsus, past participle of incendō (“to set on fire; to excite, irritate, anger”).^{[5][9][8][13]} Barnhart and Etymonline trace the French verb to Late Latin incēnsō, a frequentative of incendō,^[2][7][10] and the American Heritage Dictionary gives it the sense "to sacrifice, burn".^[10] The Latin verb is also the source of incendiary.^[7][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

To arouse or inspire someone with ardent feeling: 1435, in Richard Misyn's translation of Rolle's Fire of Love, My saule truly with holy lufe was ensensyd.^[4][5] Barnhart dates encensen, to set afire and to kindle passion, to about 1410,^[2] and Etymonline places the sense "to arouse, inspire" in the early 15th century.^[7]

Semantic evolution

The verb could be used of any passion, good or bad, but anger, as the strongest, finally took the word over;^[18] Trench compares Greek θυμός (thumós) and ὀργή (orgḗ), which did the same.^[18] The sense "to provoke, anger" appears in the mid-15th century,^[7][4] and the OED's first quotation for "to make angry, enrage" is from Fabyan's chronicle (before 1513);^[5] Barnhart dates "to enrage" to 1494.^[2] The literal senses "to set on fire, burn" (1470–1700) and "to heat" were rare and died out,^[5][7][4] as did "to incite, urge" (1531–1639) and "to kindle a passion" (1598–1809).^[5] Weekley compares the current sense with to inflame.^[12]

Timeline

• 1435 – to arouse or inspire with ardent feeling.^[5][4]
• c. 1440 – to provoke or anger.^[4]
• 1470 – to set on fire, burn (obsolete by 1700).^[5]
• 1494 – to enrage.^[2]
• 1531 – to incite, urge (obsolete by 1639).^[5]
• 1598 – to kindle a passion (obsolete by 1809).^[5]

Meanings

Verb

1. To make extremely angry; to enrage: The new parking fees incensed the residents.^[9][5][13]
2. (archaic) To arouse a passion or emotion.^[9][13][5]
3. (obsolete) To set on fire or burn (1470–1700).^[9][5]

Word family

• incensement