olfactory

Where does the word "olfactory" come from? It comes from Latin olfacere, and was adopted directly into English (1650s).

Olfactory’s story begins in Latin: olfacere meant “to smell.” To smell, from olere (to smell) and facere (to make). It reached English by 1650s as olfactory. Settled as the English word for anything relating to the sense of smell. Today, olfactory means relating to the sense of smell.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient olfacere "to smell", to smell, from olere (to smell) and facere (to make).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1650s olfactory "relating to the sense of smell", settled as the English word for anything relating to the sense of smell.