Etymology

incense

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Today it means: Biotic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt, often used in religious rites or for aesthetic reasons. Full definition →

Middle English encens ← Old French encens ← Late Latin incensum
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The story

  1. Late Latin · derived fromincensum“burnt incense”
  2. Old French · derived fromencens“sweet-smelling substance”
  3. Middle English · inherited fromencens
  4. English todayincense

From Middle English encens, from Old French encens (“sweet-smelling substance”) from Late Latin incensum (“burnt incense”, literally “something burnt”), neuter past participle of incendō (“to set on fire”). Compare incendiary. Doublet of incienso. Displaced native Old English rēcels.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.