A very strong, unpleasant smell that makes you want to hold your nose.
From Old English 'stencean' meaning 'to cause to smell.' The word comes from Germanic roots and originally described any smell, but over time became specifically associated with bad smells.
Your sense of smell is actually 10,000 times more sensitive than your sense of taste—which is why a terrible stench can completely ruin your appetite even when food looks delicious!
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