redolent

UK: ˈred.əl.ənt | US: ˈred.əl.ənt

Definition

  1. adj. strongly reminiscent or suggestive of something (often a scent or mood)

  2. adj. fragrant or sweet-smelling

Structure
re <again>dol <smell>ent <adjective suffix>
Etymology

Derived from Latin redolēre ("to emit a smell"), combining re- (expressing intensity or repetition) and olēre ("to smell"). The root dol is a variant of ol, reflecting the shift in Latin phonetics. Originally describing strong odors, it evolved metaphorically to evoke vivid associations beyond scent alone.

Examples

  1. The kitchen was redolent of cinnamon and cloves.

  2. His writing is redolent of 19th-century romanticism.

  3. The old letters were redolent with memories of her childhood.

  4. The garden grew redolent after the summer rain.

  5. The phrase is redolent of Shakespearean tragedy.