Smell

Smell - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

SMELL, v.t. pret and pp. smelled, smelt. [I have not found this word in any other language.] TO perceive by the nose, or by the olfactory nerves; to have a sensation excited in certain organs of the nose by particular qualities of a body, which are transmitted in fine particles, often form a distance; as, to smell a rose; to smell perfumes.

TO SMELL OUT, is a low phrase signifying to find out by sagacity.

TO SMELL A RAT, is a low phrase signifying to suspect strongly.

SMELL, v.i.

1. To affect the olfactory nerves; to have an odor or particualr scent; followed by of; as to smell of smoke; to smell of musk.

2. To have a particular tincuture or smack or any quality; as, a report smells of calumny. [Not elegant.]

3. To practice smelling. Exo 30.

4. To exercise sagacity.

SMELL, n.

1. The sense of faculty by which through the instrumentally of the olfactory nerves; or the faculty of perceiving by the organs of the nose; one of the five senses. In some species of beasts, the smell is remark able acute, particularly in the canine species.

2. Scent; odor; the quality of bodies which affects the olfactory organs; as the smell of mint; the smell of geranium. The sweetest smell in the air is that of the white double violet.