Smell | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Smell, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. SMELLED, SMELT; p. pr. & vb. n. SMELLING.] [L. Ger. smellen, smelen, smölen, schmelen, to smoke, to reek; D. smeulen, to smolder.]

Sense 1. To perceive by the nose, or by the olfactory nerves; to have a sensation excited of, by means of the nasal organs when affected by the appropriate materials or qualities; as, to smell a rose; to smell perfumes.

Sense 2. To perceive as if by the smell; to give heed to.

From that time forward I began to smell the Word of God, and forsook the school doctors. Latimer.

To smell a rat, to suspect strongly. [Colloq.]—To smell out, to find out by sagacity. [Colloq.]

Smĕll, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. 1. To affect the olfactory nerves; to have an odor or particular scent;—followed by of; as, to smell of smoke; to smell of musk.

Sense 2. To have a particular tincture or smack of any quality; as, a report smells of calumny.

Praises in an enemy are superfluous, or smell of craft. Milton.

Sense 3. To exercise the sense of smell.

Sense 4. To exercise sagacity.

Smell, n.

noun

The sense or faculty by which certain qualities of bodies are perceived through the instrumentality of the olfactory nerves,—one of the five senses.
The quality of any thing or substance, or emanation therefrom, which affects the olfactory organs; odor; scent; as, the smell of mint; the smell of geranium. “Breathing the smell of field and grove.” Milton.

The sweetest smell in the air is that of the white double violet. Bacon. Syn.—Scent; odor; perfume; fragrance.