effume

English

Etymology

From Latin effumare (“to emit smoke”), from ex + fumare (“to smoke”), from fumus (“smoke”).

Verb

effume (third-person singular simple present effumes, present participle effuming, simple past and past participle effumed)

1. (obsolete) To breathe or puff out.
   • 1599 (first performance), B. I. [i.e., Ben Jonson], The Comicall Satyre of Euery Man out of His Humor. […], London: […] [Adam Islip] for William Holme, […], published 1600, →OCLC, Act III, scene i, signature [I iiij], verso:

     I can make this dog take as many whiffes as I liſt, and he ſhall retaine or efume them at my pleaſure.

Derived terms

• effumability