See Also: incense(3)(dictionary)
incense(2)(dictionary)
incense(1)(dictionary)
incense(encyclopedia)
incense(medicine)
incense 1, noun(dictionary)
incense 2, verb(dictionary)
The Incense Route-Desert Cities in the Negev(tourism)
therapeutic(dictionary)
Therapeutic(medicine)

Therapeutic abortion (health) and incense(1) (iou)


Therapeutic abortion (health)


An abortion that is brought about intentionally. Also called an artificial or induced abortion. As opposed to a spontaneous abortion (a miscarriage).





incense(1) (iou)



incense noun. Also (earlier) encense. ME.
[Old & mod. French encens from ecclesiastical Latin incensum use as noun of neut. of incensus pa. pple of incendere set fire to, formed as IN-2 + root of candere to glow.]
a. An aromatic gum or spice used for producing a sweet smell when burned. ME.
P. S. Buck He burned a little incense before them.
b. The smoke or perfume of this, esp. when burned as part of religious ceremonial. LME.
male incense: see MALE adjective & noun.
M. Cox Palm Sunday found Monty..in Milan Cathedralall Banners and incense.
Orig., the smoke or odour of a burnt sacrifice. Later, a pleasant perfume or fragrance. ME.
Shelley The matin winds from the expanded flowers Scatter their hoarded incense.
fig. Something offered in homage; prayer, praise, flattery. LME.
H. Reed The incense of flattery which his satellites were forever burning beneath his nostrils.
Comb.: incense-cedar a cedar of western N. America, Calocedrus decurrens, whose leaves smell of turpentine when bruised; incense tree any of various tropical trees yielding fragrant gum; esp. Protium heptaphyllum, of the torchwood family, of S. America; incense-wood the wood of Protium heptaphyllum (see incense tree above).