redolent

redolent
\ \ [14] Etymologically, something that is redolent of something ‘smells’ of it. The word comes ultimately from Latin olēresmell’, which was derived from the same base as produced English odour. Combination with the prefix re- ‘back’ resulted in redolēreemit a smell’, from whose present participle English gets redolent. The Latin word was mainly used to convey the notion ‘smelling of something’, and this lies behind the English word’s metaphorical use for ‘suggestive, reminiscent, evocative’, first recorded in the early 19th century.
\ \ Cf.ODOUR

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Redolent — Red o*lent ( lent), a. [L. redolens, entis, p. pr. of redolere to emit a scent, diffuse an odor; pref. red , re , re + olere to emit a smell. See {Odor}.] Diffusing odor or fragrance; spreading sweet scent; scented; odorous; smelling; usually… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • redolent — ► ADJECTIVE 1) (redolent of/with) strongly reminiscent or suggestive of. 2) (redolent of/with) literary strongly smelling of. 3) archaic or literary fragrant. DERIVATIVES redolence noun redolently adverb …   English terms dictionary

  • redolent — (adj.) c.1400, from O.Fr. redolent emitting an odor, from L. redolentem, prp. of redolere emit a scent, from re , intensive prefix, + olere give off a smell (see ODOR (Cf. odor)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • redolent — [red′ lənt] adj. [OFr < L redolens, prp. of redolere, to emit a scent < re(d) , intens. + olere, to smell (akin to odor,ODOR)] 1. sweet smelling; fragrant 2. smelling (of) [redolent of the ocean] 3. suggestive or evocative (of) redolently… …   English World dictionary

  • redolent — index suggestive (evocative) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • redolent — aromatic, balmy, fragrant, *odorous Analogous words: *pungent, poignant, piquant, racy, spicy: penetrating, piercing (see ENTER) …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • redolent — [adj] aromatic; suggestive ambrosial, balmy, evocative, fragrant, odoriferous, perfumed, pungent, remindful, reminiscent, scented, sweet smelling; concepts 267,529,598 …   New thesaurus

  • redolent — [[t]re̱dələnt[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED: v link ADJ, usu ADJ of n If something is redolent of something else, it has features that make you think of that other thing. [LITERARY] ...percussion instruments, redolent of Far Eastern cultures. ...a sad tale …   English dictionary

  • redolent — adj. (formal) redolent of, with (redolent of honeysuckle) * * * [ redələnt] with (redolent of honeysuckle) (formal) redolent of …   Combinatory dictionary

  • redolent — red|o|lent [ˈredəl ənt] adj [Date: 1400 1500; : Old French; Origin: Latin, present participle of redolere to send out a smell , from olere to smell ] 1.) formal making you think of something = ↑reminiscent redolent of ▪ a style redolent of the… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • redolent — red|o|lent [ red(ə)lənt ] adjective LITERARY 1. ) redolent of reminding you of something: REMINISCENT OF: The building was redolent of the 1950s. 2. ) redolent of/with smelling of something: The air was redolent with the smell of wood smoke. ╾… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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