to smell out

Smell \Smell\ (sm[e^]l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Smelled}, {Smelt};
   p. pr. & vb. n. {Smelling}.] [OE. smellen, smillen, smullen;
   cf. LG. smellen, smelen, sm["o]len, schmelen, to smoke, to
   reek, D. smeulen to smolder, and E. smolder. Cf. {Smell}, n.]
   1. To perceive by the olfactory nerves, or organs of smell;
      to have a sensation of, excited through the nasal organs
      when affected by the appropriate materials or qualities;
      to obtain the scent of; as, to smell a rose; to smell
      perfumes.
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   2. To detect or perceive, as if by the sense of smell; to
      scent out; -- often with out. "I smell a device." --Shak.
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            Can you smell him out by that?        --Shak.
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   3. To give heed to. [Obs.]
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            From that time forward I began to smellthe Word of
            God, and forsook the school doctors.  --Latimer.
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   {To smell a rat}, to have a sense of something wrong, not
      clearly evident; to have reason for suspicion. [Colloq.]
      

   {To smell out}, to find out by sagacity. [Colloq.]
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