Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Redolent, adj. [Late ME redolent (c1400), -ente, OF redolent, L. redolens, pres. p. of redolēre, f. re(d)- and olēre to emit a smell.]

1. Sweet-smelling, fragrant; smelling sweetly (of something).Chiefly in verse. c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 40.
The rosy garth … redolent With purpur [etc.] Ib. (O.U.P.) 142/47.
This garth, most dulce and redolent Off herb and flour 1531 Bell. Boece I xii.
As spice, maist swete; as ros, maist redolent c1550 Lynd. Test. Meldrum 180.
Of balme and vther spyces redolent c1552 Id. Mon. 280.
Quhilk redolent reuer throuch the warld ȝit rynnis 15.. Clar. i 1398.
Ane meid of flouris redolent a1585 Maitl. Q. 105/64.
Now sweit mow redolent Of that sueit bodye deir

b. fig. or in fig. context. — 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1150 (B).
Bot Chrystis word, richt dulce and redolent 1629 R. Bruce in Wodrow's Life of Bruce 138.
To pour in after this his redolent balm on the bleeding wounds of a festered conscience

c. Of an odour: Pleasant, fragrant. 1513 Doug. xii Prol. 142.
Redolent odour vp from the rutis sprent

2. Only in Clariodus: Pleasing to the sight; brightly beautiful. 15.. Clar. i 33.
Of redolent stonis schynit his weid royall Ib. iv 2056.
Ane pailȝeoun … Of silke all reide, that schew full redolent