redolent
RED-uhl-unt
/ˈred.əl.ənt/
Strongly reminiscent or suggestive of something; fragrant or smelling strongly of something.
Primarily refers to rich aromas that carry strong memory associations, but can also be figurative.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'redolere' (to emit a scent), combining 'red-' (again/back) with 'olere' (to smell), reflecting how scents bring back past moments.
Word relationships
- fragrant: Fragrant simply means sweet-smelling; redolent emphasizes that the scent carries associations or intensity.
- reminiscent: Reminiscent can apply to any sense; redolent strongly focuses on olfactory associations.
- odorless: Odorless means completely lacking any scent.
Commonly confused with
- indolent: Indolent means lazy or avoiding exertion; redolent means fragrant or suggestive.
Word family
- redolence (noun): A sweet scent or suggestive quality.
Collocations
- redolent of
- redolent with
- redolent atmosphere
Idioms & expressions
- steeped in history
Example sentences
- "The kitchen was redolent of freshly baked cinnamon rolls and warm coffee." Culinary setting
- "The old library was redolent of ancient paper, leather bindings, and rich history." Atmospheric writing
Memory hook
REDOLENT = RED OLDEST ROSES smell fragrant and redolent of past summers. Re-Olere = Smell that brings back memories.
When not to use
Do not use to describe foul or unpleasant odors.
Fun facts
- In chemistry, aromatic compounds that emit rich scents were historically called 'redolent essences'.
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