View synonyms for frankincense

frankincense

[ frang-kin-sens ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

an aromatic gum resin from various Asian and African trees of the genus Boswellia, especially B. carteri, used chiefly for burning as incense in religious or ceremonial practices, in perfumery, and in pharmaceutical and fumigating preparations.

frankincense

/ ˈfræŋkɪnˌsɛns /

an aromatic gum resin obtained from trees of the burseraceous genus Boswellia , which occur in Asia and Africa Also calledolibanum

First recorded in 1350–1400, frankincense is from Middle English fraunk encense. See frank ¹, incense ¹

C14: from Old French franc free, pure + encens incense ¹; see frank

Same with the Three Kings and their gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Frankincense is a kind of incense, which is to say room freshener.

Casper, Melchior, and Balthazar “presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”

The air was heavy with the perfume of frankincense which smouldered in a brass vessel set upon a tray.

To what purpose do you bring me frankincense from Saba, and the sweet smelling cane from a far country?

Take of red roses, lapididis hoematis, white frankincense, of each half an ounce.

It is the true spice-tree of our Northern clime, the myrrh and frankincense of the land of lingering snow.

To Hamilton Burton it was all like the sniffing of frankincense and myrrh.

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