incense

Biotic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt, often used in religious rites or for aesthetic reasons.countableuncountable

The fragrant smoke released by burning incense (sense 1).countableuncountable

• When the folding-doors were on such solemn occasions thrown open, and the new Abbot appeared on the threshold in full-blown dignity, with ring and mitre, and dalmatique and crosier, his hoary standard-bearers and his juvenile dispensers of

Homage; adulation.countablefigurativelyuncountable

To set on fire; to inflame; to kindle; to burn.obsoletetransitive

• Twelve Trojan princes wait on thee, and labour to incense / Thy glorious heap of funeral.

To anger; to infuriate.transitive

• I think it would incense him to learn the truth.

To incite; to stimulate.archaictransitive

To offer incense to.transitive

• And after this Almachius hastily Bad his ministres fecchen openly Cecile, so that she mighte in his presence Doon sacrifyce, and Iupiter encense. And after this, Almachius hastily Ordered his ministers to fetch publicly Cecile, so that she

To perfume with, or as with, incense.transitive

• To haue her bound, incenſed with wanton ſweetes, / Her vaines fild hie with heating delicates, / […] / O Ithaca can chaſteſt Penelope hold out.
• 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.