Fragrant
/ˈfreɪ.ɡrənt/noun
Having a pleasant, sweet smell.
Did you know?Fragrant comes from Latin *fragrans*, the present participle of *fragrare*, “to emit a strong smell,” a root tied to the idea of something burning off into the air like an offering.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰegʷʰ-
“to burn, be on fire”
Latin
Latin
fragrare
“to give off a strong smell; to smell sweet or pungent”
Latin
Latin
fragrans
“smelling sweetly; emitting scent”
Late Latin
Latin
fragrantia
“sweet smell; fragrance”
Middle English
English
fragrant
“sweet-smelling, perfumed”
Modern English
English
fragrant
“having a pleasant smell”