redolentadj.
/ˈrɛdələnt/, /ˈrɛdəln̩t/, /ˈrɛdl̩(ə)nt/, U.S. /ˈrɛdl̩ənt/ 1.
a. Originally: having or diffusing a pleasant smell, aroma, or scent; sweet-smelling, fragrant. In later use chiefly: strong smelling, pungent.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > fragrance > [adjective]
sweet900
sootc950
aromatic1366
merrya1398
well-smellinga1398
sweet-smellingc1400
lusciousc1420
savoury?a1425
redolingc1429
redolent?a1439
odorate?1440
flagrant1450
redolentc1450
well-savouringc1450
aromatous1483
softa1500
well-aired1505
balmy1508
ambrosiana1522
embalmeda1529
fragrantc1530
perfumed1538
scented?c1562
scented1567
balm-like1569
sweet1573
aromatizate1576
aromatical1578
Sabaeana1586
ambrosial1590
rich1590
perfumed1591
sweet-scented1591
reperfumed1593
balm-breathing1595
nectaredc1595
spiced1600
fuming1601
fumed1612
scentful1612
balsam1624
perfumy1625
odoraminous1656
aroma-olent1657
suaveolent1657
aromatized1661
essenced1675
balsamy1687
flavorous1697
balsamic1714
well-scented1726
scenty1738
breathing1757
spicy1765
flavouriferous1773
aromal1848
bescented1863
euodic1868
nosy1892
a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) ix. 2905 (MED) Philipot..Wrouhte atires plesaunt of deliht, With holsum watres that wer redolent To make hir skyn bi wasshyng soote & whiht.
?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1879) VII. 485 The body..was founde redolente [a1387 J. Trevisa tr. smelled ful soote] and incorrupte by ij yere after his dethe.
a1500 in N. Davis Non-Cycle Plays & Fragm. (1970) 121 (MED) I se these hey hyllys wher is the holsom ayer; Benethe, the redolent medowes with ther flowres fayer.
1528 T. Paynell tr. Arnaldus de Villa Nova in Joannes de Mediolano Regimen Sanitatis Salerni sig. H b Fragrant and redolent wyne conforteth moste.
1600 E. Fairfax tr. T. Tasso Godfrey of Bulloigne x. lxi. 191 A lothsome lake of brimstone, pitch and lime, Oregoes that land, earst sweet and redolent.
1634 R. H. tr. Regim. Salerni 66 A toast wet in redolent Wine is good to eate.
1707 R. Franck Admirable & Indefatigable Adventures Nine Pious Pilgrims 167 It exceeded not three Days..when I came into a florid and fragrant Field, adorn'd with redolent and aromatick Sweets.
?1788 J. Weston tr. J. Morfitt Philotoxi Ardenæ 2 How sweetly redolent the new-mown Hay!
1826 H. Smith Tor Hill II. 96 Can you olfact this redolent ragout, and yet tear me from it?
1832 Ld. Tennyson Poems 105 Every flower and every fruit the redolent breath Of this warm seawind ripeneth.
1912 W. E. Weyl New Democracy vii. 82 The little butchers who used to fill our cities and towns with their redolent abattoirs.
1963 N.Y. Times Mag. 25 Aug. 49 (advt.) Habana cigars are presented in a full color selection, from the mellow, mild emerald-green ‘claro’ to the heady redolent English Market ‘maduro’.
1999 Time Out N.Y. 25 Feb. 58/1 Arika Someya..works with a highly redolent material: motor oil.
b. Of a smell: pleasant, sweet, fragrant; (in later use also) strong, pungent.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > fragrance > [adjective]
sweet900
sootc950
aromatic1366
merrya1398
well-smellinga1398
sweet-smellingc1400
lusciousc1420
savoury?a1425
redolingc1429
redolent?a1439
odorate?1440
flagrant1450
redolentc1450
well-savouringc1450
aromatous1483
softa1500
well-aired1505
balmy1508
ambrosiana1522
embalmeda1529
fragrantc1530
perfumed1538
scented?c1562
scented1567
balm-like1569
sweet1573
aromatizate1576
aromatical1578
Sabaeana1586
ambrosial1590
rich1590
perfumed1591
sweet-scented1591
reperfumed1593
balm-breathing1595
nectaredc1595
spiced1600
fuming1601
fumed1612
scentful1612
balsam1624
perfumy1625
odoraminous1656
aroma-olent1657
suaveolent1657
aromatized1661
essenced1675
balsamy1687
flavorous1697
balsamic1714
well-scented1726
scenty1738
breathing1757
spicy1765
flavouriferous1773
aromal1848
bescented1863
euodic1868
nosy1892
c1450 Contin. Lydgate's Secrees (Sloane 2464) 2371 Lyk a gardeyn of Redolent savour.
a1500 J. Mirk's Festial 106/111 A gode vessell and wele fyned conseruyth..good wyne and yevith thereto redolent relese and swete savour.
?1567 Merie Tales Master Skelton sig. Diiiiv For all wines must be strong and fayre and well coloured: It must haue a redolent sauoure.
1568 T. Howell Arbor of Amitie f. 1 The Violets trim..Doe not alwayes..florishe gay, with smell most redolent.
1629 J. Maxwell tr. Herodian Hist. 251 All manner of redolent Odours.
1652 C. B. Stapylton tr. Herodian Imperiall Hist. 6 Leaving behind a redolent perfume.
?1791 T. May Poems Descriptive & Moral 137 Through all the live-long day they ply, Surcharg'd with balm and redolent perfume.
1834 London Jrnl. 24 Sept. 202/2 Here the Indian narcissus..entertain the eye, and breathe their redolent odour and perfumes.
1854 H. Maney Memories over Water xlix. 337 Refreshing fountains played and fragrant flowers fed, with redolent perfume, the balmy air.
1940 Eng. Jrnl. 29 42 A story full of the sounds and smells, the whisperings and redolent odors of the jungle.
1972 A. H. Friedman Hermaphrodeity 315 My nostrils reeled, I thought of the boars and thought the redolent stench was theirs.
2007 Western Morning News (Plymouth) (Nexis) 29 Aug. 10 Just when we are all starting to notice those first redolent scents of spring..the air will be filled with the horrendous pong of stale cow slurry.
c. figurative and in figurative contexts.
ΚΠ
c1475 ( in Eng. Hist. Rev. (1911) 26 514 Justice is full necessare with other cardinalles vertues, yet none of them hath þat redolent swhetnes that hath clemencie and myldenes.
1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure (1928) xxxviii. 199 Her redolente wordes of swete influence Degouted vapoure moost aromatyke.
1542 T. Becon Christmas Bankette sig. B.iiij Ye moost odoriferous, redolent, & swete smellynge floures of ye holy scriptures.
1568 ( D. Lindsay Satyre (Bannatyne) l. 2108 in Wks. (1931) II. 128 Bot chrystis word richt dulce and redolent.
1629 R. Bruce Let. in R. Wodrow Life (1843) 138 To pour in after this his redolent balm on the bleeding wounds of a festered conscience.
1645 E. Udall Serm. 8 in J. Shute Judgem. & Mercy The substance of this Text, and..the pretious fragrant redolent oyntment in it.
1731 Epist. Capt. Brazen to Capt. Plume 7 His Actions, Glory and his Fame Shall redolent appear.
1778 W. A. Clarke Bed of Sweet Flowers 37 Blest Sharon's Rose! thy virtues may I prove, Redolent sweetness in thy blooming love.
1850 ‘S. Yendys’ Roman viii. 144 The lapp'd sense in soft confusion own'd Redolent light.
1901 Atlantic Monthly Sept. 355/1 For a certain space the hush continued,—a pleasant, suggestive, even a redolent hush, calling to mind the delicate verses of Stevenson.
1977 Time Jan. 66/3 Writer Frank Sullivan saluted friends and celebrities in a full-page poem, nutmegged with his gentle wit and redolent rhymes.
2004 P. Ackroyd Lambs of London (2005) iii. 37 A more sensitive person would no doubt have thrived in this redolent atmosphere.
2. With of or with. (Now the usual sense.)
a. Permeated or imbued with a smell or aroma; having a particular smell. Also: having a smell suggestive or reminiscent of some quality, feeling, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > [adjective]
strongOE
savouringc1384
breatheda1398
flairinga1400
smellinga1400
odorifere?a1425
odorous?a1425
smellablec1449
odoranta1465
odoriferousc1487
odiferousa1500
odoureda1500
odiferant1509
redolent?a1513
reflairing1523
odoriferantc1550
scenting1577
odorable1589
breathful1593
fat1598
olent1607
smelled1617
odorific1685
tainted1704
odourful1889
osmic1912
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 164 This garth, most dulce and redolent Off herb and flour.
c1550 Clariodus (1830) i. 1398 Ane meid of flouris redolent.
1623 J. Abbot Iesus Præfigured ii. 104 The honied house smels redolent with thyme.
1700 J. Dryden tr. Ovid Of Pythagorean Philos. in Fables 507 While Kine to Pails distended Udders bring, And Bees their Hony redolent of Spring.
1747 T. Gray Ode Eton Coll. 4 The Gales..seem.., redolent of Joy and Youth, To breathe a second Spring.
1821 C. Lamb in London Mag. June 611/2 The odour of those tender vegetables to this day comes back upon my sense, redolent of soothing recollections.
1839 C. M. Kirkland New Home iv. 27 The table was laid again with the tea equipage and a goodly pile of still warm bread, redolent of milk yeast.
1871 H. Alabaster Wheel of Law 125 The Grand Being entered his magnificent palace, redolent with fragrant perfumes.
1961 A. Wilson Old Men at Zoo i. 35 The Director caught up with me, all redolent with lavender soap to greet his lady wife, as he was apt to call her.
1998 T. Lust Pass Polenta 67 Cioppino is a hearty fish stew, redolent of garlic and tomatoes and the brine of the sea.
2005 J. Weiner Goodnight Nobody xxvi. 218 By Saturday night..the kitchen was redolent with the smells of a dozen delicacies.
b. figurative. Imbued with or rich in a quality, a feeling, etc.; strongly suggestive or reminiscent of a particular thing.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > [adjective] > indicating or indicative of
talkative1509
indicant1607
denotative1611
indicative1665
notifying1680
expressive1713
indicating1753
impressive1791
indicatory1798
redolent1828
denotive1830
indiciala1849
indexical1897
1553 T. Paynell Pandectes Euangelycall Lawe Ep. Ded. sig. Aiii Thys my gyfte is..redolent wyth al vertous preceptes, wt the moste flagrant & odoriferus worde of God.
1710 D. Manley Mem. Europe II. 117 Arethusa beheld the lovely Endymion Redolent of Youth!
1785 S. Jackson Landscapes in Verse 36 They wait the festal hour, That festal hour all redolent with bliss, For which young Fancy twines her fairest wreathe.
1828 E. Irving Last Days 369 Their craft..all redolent with Popish superstition.
1839 H. Hallam Introd. Lit. Europe II. v. 313 It is a strain redolent of a bridegroom's joy.
1856 R. W. Emerson Eng. Traits xii. 202 On every side, Oxford is redolent of age and authority.
1876 J. G. Holland Story of Sevenoaks (new ed.) xxiii. 328 The lawyer's hands were as pale..and his lips as redolent of scorn.
1924 J. Galsworthy Mod. Comedy (1929) i. vi. 33 ‘Old Mont's’ talk was so much more up to date, rapid, glancing, garrulous, redolent of precise information.
1989 O. V. Vijayan After the Hanging 61 This dingy street was redolent with history, it was called Sultanpet, to commemorate Tippu Sultan's invasion.
2001 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 15 Nov. 23/4 A deep-shadowed decor redolent of Surrealism and Freud as modified for the readers of Vogue.
Derivatives
ˈredolently adv.
ΚΠ
1797 in Edinb. Mag. (1798) May 383/1 What plants most redolently form the spell, An idly busy muse in rhyme shall tell.
1839 Ladies' Compan. Dec. 61/2 I felt the soil all teeming bright, With Nature's bounties, redolently gay.
1939 Rev. Eng. Stud. 15 150 The whole play is redolently Elizabethan.
2002 Church Times 21 June 9/2 [Canon law] speaks redolently of the Church's understanding of itself, and the nature of its functioning, discipline, doctrine and beliefs.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.?a1439