Skip to content

stench

noun

No English definition recorded for this entry.

L328488 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /stɛnt͡ʃ/

noun

Etymology: From Middle English stench, from Old English stenċ (“stench, odor, fragrance”), from Proto-Germanic *stankwiz (“smell, fragrance, odor”), from Proto-Indo-European *stengʷ- (“to push, thrust”). Cognate with Dutch stank (“stench, odor”), German Stank, Gestank (“stench, odor, smell”), Danish stank (“stench”), Swedish stank (“stench”), Icelandic stækja (“stench”).

  1. a strong foul smell; a stink.
  2. A foul quality.

    “the stench of political corruption”

  3. A smell or odour, not necessarily bad.

    “Black bulls, and bearded goats on altars lie; / And clouds of ſav'ry ſtench involve the ſky.”

verb

Etymology: From Middle English stench, from Old English stenċ (“stench, odor, fragrance”), from Proto-Germanic *stankwiz (“smell, fragrance, odor”), from Proto-Indo-European *stengʷ- (“to push, thrust”). Cognate with Dutch stank (“stench, odor”), German Stank, Gestank (“stench, odor, smell”), Danish stank (“stench”), Swedish stank (“stench”), Icelandic stækja (“stench”).

  1. To cause to emit a disagreeable odour; to cause to stink.

    “Dead bards stench every coast”

  2. To stanch.