stench

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

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).

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /stɛnt͡ʃ/
    • (file)
  • Rhymes: -ɛntʃ

Noun[edit]

stench (plural stenches)

  1. a strong foul smell; a stink.
  2. (figurative) A foul quality.
    the stench of political corruption
  3. (obsolete) A smell or odour, not necessarily bad.

Synonyms[edit]

  • (disagreeable smell): stink, pong (Commonwealth)

Antonyms[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

Verb[edit]

stench (third-person singular simple present stenches, present participle stenching, simple past and past participle stenched)

  1. (obsolete) To cause to emit a disagreeable odour; to cause to stink.
    • 1729, Edward Young, Imperium Pelagi:
      Dead bards stench every coast
  2. To stanch.

Middle English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Originally two distinct nouns:

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /stɛnt͡ʃ/, /stint͡ʃ/, /stunt͡ʃ/

Noun[edit]

stench (plural stenches)

  1. A stench; an unpleasant or repulsive smell:
    1. The sulphuric smell of hellfire.
    2. The smell of sin or iniquity.
  2. Something that causes or has such a smell.
  3. (rare, Early Middle English) A smell or scent (good or bad).

Related terms[edit]

Descendants[edit]

  • English: stench
  • Scots: stench, stinch

References[edit]