incensing
|in-cens-ing|
/ɪnˈsɛnsɪŋ/
(incense)
extremely angry
Etymology
'incense' originates from Latin, specifically from the verb 'incendere', where 'in-' meant 'in, into' and 'cendere' (related to 'candere') meant 'to glow, to burn'.
'incense' changed via Late Latin/Medieval Latin into Old French 'encenser' and then into Middle English (e.g. 'incensen'/'encensen') before becoming the modern English 'incense'.
Initially it meant 'to set on fire' or 'to burn'; over time it developed the senses 'to smoke/perfume with aromatic substances' and metaphorically 'to inflame (anger)', which led to the modern meaning 'to make very angry'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
present participle or gerund form of 'incense' meaning to make (someone) very angry; to inflame with anger.
His repeated excuses were incensing the committee members.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Verb 2
present participle or gerund form of 'incense' meaning to perfume or fumigate (a place or object) with incense (literally to burn aromatic substances).
The monks were incensing the altar before the ceremony.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/30 07:42