besmell

B3E1S1M3E1L1L1

verb

To smell out; sniff about, around, or all over; investigate or check by smelling; detect a smell or a scent.

Scrabble 11

Meanings

verbbesmell (third-person singular simple present besmells, present participle besmelling, simple past and past participle besmelled or besmelt)

present singular third person besmells · participle present besmelling · participle past besmelled · past besmelled · participle past besmelt · past besmelt

  1. 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 Soot
    1 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

Also see

Origin

Cite this entry
APA

besmell. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/besmell

MLA

“besmell.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/besmell. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “besmell,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/besmell.

Source: besmell on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.