scent

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*sent-“to feel”
2. Latin · derived fromsentiō, sentīre“to feel, sense”
3. Old French · derived fromsentir“to feel, perceive, smell, sense”
4. Middle English · inherited fromsent
5. English todayscent

From Middle English sent (noun) and senten (verb), from Old French sentir (“to feel, perceive, smell, sense”), from Latin sentiō, sentīre (“to feel, sense”). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sent- (“to feel”), and thus related to Saterland Frisian Sin (“sense”), West Frisian sin (“sense”), Dutch zin (“sense, meaning”), Low German Sinn (“sense”), Luxembourgish Sënn (“sense, perception”), German Sinn (“sense”). The -c- appeared in the 17th century, possibly by influence of ascent, descent, etc., or by influence of science.

Words from the same roots