incense

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)Biotic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt, often used in religious rites or for aesthetic reasons.
2. (countable, uncountable)The fragrant smoke released by burning incense (sense 1).
3. (countable, figuratively, uncountable)Homage; adulation.

verb

1. (obsolete, transitive)To set on fire; to inflame; to kindle; to burn.

   “Twelve Trojan princes wait on thee, and labour to incense / Thy glorious heap of funeral.”

2. (transitive)To anger or infuriate.

   “I think it would incense him to learn the truth.”

   “His Grace the Duke of Wellington was incensed greatly, and as badge of dishonor ordered that a strip of cherry colored ribbon be sewed on their trowser seams.”

   “Few political careers start when people are in their 70s, but Hendy is actually relishing it, although he is incensed sometimes by the pointlessness of the posturing by the opposition, which keeps him up late. "The bit I don't like is getting home at 0100 or 0200 in the morning because the opposition have been fruitlessly arguing for a long time."”

3. (archaic, transitive)To incite, stimulate.
4. (transitive)To offer incense to.

   “And after this Almachius hastily Bad his ministres fecchen openly Cecile, so that she mighte in his presence Doon sacrifyce, and Iupiter encense. And after this, Almachius hastily Ordered his ministers to fetch publicly Cecile, so that she might in his presence Do sacrifice and burn incense to Jupiter.”

5. (transitive)To perfume with, or as with, incense.

   “To haue her bound, incenſed with wanton ſweetes, / Her vaines fild hie with heating delicates, / […] / O Ithaca can chaſteſt Penelope hold out.”

   “Neither, for the future, shall any man or woman, self-styled noble, be incensed,—foolishly fumigated with incense, in Church; as the wont has been.”

   “The priests solemnly incensed the girl who personated the goddess.”