
incense1
incense (în-sèns´)
verb, transitive
incensed, incensing, incenses
To cause to be extremely
angry; infuriate.
[Middle English encensen,
from Old French incenser, from Late Latin incênsâre, to sacrifice,
burn, from Latin incênsus, past participle of incendere, to set on
fire.]
incense2
incense (în´sèns´)
noun
1. a. An aromatic substance,
such as wood or a gum, that is burned to produce a pleasant odor. b. The
smoke or odor produced by the burning of such a substance.
2. A pleasant smell.
3. Flattering or fawning
attention; homage.
verb, transitive
incensed, incensing, incenses
1. To
perfume
with incense.
2. To burn incense to, as
a ritual offering.
[Middle English encens,
from Old French, from Latin incênsum, from neuter past participle
of incendere, to set on fire.]
incense-tree
incense-tree, common name for deciduous
shrubs and trees of the family Burseraceae, found chiefly in tropical America
and NE Africa. The incenses
frankincense
and
myrrh
are prepared from the resin exuded by some species. Frankincense, or olibanum,
derived mainly from Boswellia carterii, is used medicinally and for fumigation.
Myrrh, prepared especially from Commiphora erythraea and common myrrh, C. myrrha,
is used medicinally and in perfumes and was used by the ancients in embalming.
Frankincense and myrrh, together with GOLD, were the gifts of the WISE MEN OF
THE EAST.