olfăcĭo, ēci, actum, 3 (uncontracted collat. form ŏlĕfăcĭo: olefacit, olefecit, olefactum, Not. Tir. p. 167), v. a. [oleo-facio], to smell, scent something (class.; syn. odoror).
I Lit.: ea, quae gustemus, olfaciamus, tractemus, audiamus, Cic. Tusc. 5, 38, 111: unguentum, Cat. 13, 13: laurus folia trita olfactaque, smelled , Plin. 23, 8, 80, § 157: gith tusum, olfactum, id. 20, 17, 71, § 183 (olefactum, Jahn).— Absol. : delphini sagacissime olfaciunt, have a very keen scent , Plin. 11, 37, 50, § 137.—
B Trop., to smell , scent , surmise , detect any thing: non sex totis mensibus olfecissem, quam, etc., Ter. Ad. 397: nummum, Cic. Agr. 1, 4, 11: nomen poëtae, Petr. 93.—*
II To cause to smell of any thing: si ad matris mammam (agnus) non accedet, admovere oportet et olfacere labra lacte, Varr. R. R. 2, 2, 16.