ŏlĕo, lŭi, 2 (collat. form ŏlo, ĕre; pres. subj. olat, Afran. ap. Non. 147, 2: olant, Plaut. Poen. 1, 2, 56; id. Most. 1, 3, 121; Pompon. ap. Non. 147, 5). v. n. and a. [root od-; cf. Gr. ὄζω; v. odor], to smell (class.; cf. odoro, fragro).
I To emit a smell , to smell of any thing.
A Lit., constr. absol. or with acc., less freq. with abl. of that of which any thing smells: quid (jura) olant, nescias, nisi id unum, male ut olere intellegas, Plaut. Most. 1, 3, 120 sq.; id. Truc. 2, 4, 3: rosa recens a longinquo olet, sicca propius, Plin. 21, 7, 18, § 37: olent, salsa sunt, ut tangere non velis, Plaut. Poen. 1, 2, 35: mulieres ideo bene olere, quia nihil olebant, videbantur, Cic. Att. 2, 1, 1; cf. Mart. 2, 12: hesperis noctu magis olet, Plin. 21, 7, 18, § 39: ceram crocum olere, of wax , Cic. de Or. 3, 25, 99: olet unguenta, Ter. Ad. 117: unguenta exotica, Plaut. Most. 1, 1, 41: vina fere dulces oluerunt mane Camenae, Hor. Ep. 1, 19, 5.— With abl.: cur nardo flammae non oluere meae? Prop. 5, 7, 32: Arabo rore, Ov. H. 15, 76: sulphure, id. M. 5, 405.—In a bad sense: cui os oleat, i. e. who has a foul breath , Dig. 21, 1, 12; cf. Mart. 12, 87.—
B Trop., to smell of , savor of any thing; to indicate , betray any thing: quid igitur? quid olet? responde! Pen. Furtum, scortum, prandium, Plaut. Men. 1, 2, 60: nihil olere peregrinum, to savor of , betray , Cic. de Or. 3, 12, 44: nihil ex Academiā, id. N. D. 1, 26, 72: malitiam, id. Rosc. Com. 7, 20: verba alumnum olent, betray , Quint. 8, 1, 3.—
II To betray itself or be observed by its smell : aurum huic olet, i. e. he smells out , observes that I have money , Plaut. Aul. 2, 2, 39: non olet, unde sit, quod dicitur cum illis? don't you perceive whence it comes? Cic. Or. 45, 154.
V —Hence, ŏlens , entis, P. a., smelling , odorous (mostly poet.).
A Sweet-smelling , fragrant , odoriferous : rami olentes, Verg. G. 1, 188: serpylla, Verg. G. 4, 30: olentia pascua, Ov. A. A. 1, 95: mentae, id. M. 10, 729: Hymettus, Stat. Th. 12, 622.—
B Lit., Stinking , foul , rank : leno, Plaut. Men. 5, 2, 111: maritus (i. e. hircus), Hor. C. 1, 17, 7: immundus olentia sudor Membra sequebatur, Verg. G. 3, 564: Medi ora, id. ib. 2, 134: fornix, Hor. S. 1, 2, 30: stagna Palici, i. e. olentia sulphure, Ov. P. 2, 10, 25: agri (from dead bodies), Luc. 7, 821.—
2 Trop.: quaedam, musty , Tac. Or. 22 fin.