I.to smell at, examine by smelling (cf. olfacio).
I. Lit.: “pallam,” Plaut. Men. 1, 2, 55.—
B. Transf., to smell out, detect by the scent; to scent: “ibo odorans, quasi canis venaticus,” Plaut. Mil. 2, 2, 113: “cibum,” Hor. Epod. 6, 10: “hominem,” Col. 6, 2: “vultures sagacius odorantur,” Plin. 10, 69, 88, § 191: “bellum,” Vulg. Job, 39, 25.—
II. Trop.
A. To aspire to, aim at a thing, in a contemptuous sense; to snuff, as a dog: “quos odorari hunc decemviratum suspicamini,” Cic. Agr. 2, 24, 65.—
B. To search out, trace out, investigate: “odorabantur omnia et pervestigabant,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 13, § 31: “quid sentiant,” id. de Or. 2, 44, 186: “quid futurum sit,” id. Att. 14, 22, 1: “soles enim tu haec festive odorari,” id. ib. 4, 14, 2: “pecuniam,” id. Clu. 30, 82: “tu velim ex Fabio odorere,” id. Att. 4, 8, 4: “sagacius,” id. ib. 6, 4, 3: “odorandi vias occultas sagax,” Amm. 14, 5, 6.—
C. To get an inkling or smattering of any thing: “odoratus philosophiam,” Tac. Or. 19, 3: “veritatem leviter,” Lact. 7, 1, 11.
