Meanings
present singular third person besmells · participle present besmelling · participle past besmelled · past besmelled · participle past besmelt · past besmelt
- emphatictransitiveTo smell out; sniff about, around, or all over; investigate or check by smelling; detect a smell or a scent.
Juan positioned himself by the side of the building, peeked through an open window, and found the feast a sight to behold, and a scent to besmell.
2012, George R.R. Washington, Alan Goldsher, A Game of Groans: A Sonnet of Slush and Soot1 more example
I'll tell you News, Sirs, I carry a little Muist-box (which is the Word of GOD) in my Bosom, and when I meet with the ill Air of ill company, that's like to gar me Swarf, I besmell my self with the 'sweet lavour of it, and with the Name ...
1708, Michael Bruce, Good news in evil times for fainting believers
Synonyms & antonyms
Origin
Cite this entry
besmell. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/besmell
“besmell.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/besmell. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “besmell,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/besmell.
Source: besmell on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.