frankincense
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of frankincense
First recorded in 1350–1400, frankincense is from Middle English fraunk encense. See frank 1, incense 1
Explanation
Frankincense is a substance valued for its fragrant smell. While frankincense may make you think of Christmas and the three wise men, it has been used in a variety of cultures, contexts, and religions. Frankincense comes from the gum of a Middle Eastern tree. So does myrrh, the other offering made to Jesus in the Nativity story, which is where you are most likely to have heard of frankincense. Frankincense has been used in several religious traditions, including that of the ancient Egyptians. The first part of this word is related to the modern adjective frank, which means “direct and unreserved.”
Vocabulary lists containing frankincense
Joy To The Word: Christmas Terms
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The Picture of Dorian Gray
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Most fossils from the Frankincense family have, up until now, been recovered from rocks that postdate the asteroid impact.
From Science Daily • Dec. 19, 2023
Frankincense, the energy of which Vargas likens to a father figure, creates a force field of protection; and myrrh is often seen as a metaphor for Mother Earth because of its grounding effect.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 9, 2022
Frankincense is difficult to get, too: Oman restricts its output and exports mostly already distilled oil, while Yemen’s devastating civil war makes the country a no-go zone for international trade.
From New York Times • May 10, 2021
Frankincense, the main ingredient in this formula, is said to help relieve anxiety and soothe skin.
From Washington Post • Nov. 29, 2016
The Antly Church would be empty and the Antly Bishop would wait in his funny Antly Bishop clothes, swinging Frankincense in a silver pot.
From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
