v. [a. F. thurifi-er (15–16th c. in Godef.), ad. eccl. L. thūrificāre, f. thūs, thūr- incense + -ficāre: see THUS sb. and -FY.]
† 1. intr. To burn or offer incense; = CENSE v.1 2. Obs. rare.
c. 1440. Capgrave, St. Kath., V. 350. If ȝe wil consent And thuryfye to Iubiter. Ibid., 534. Thanne shul ye now … Thuryfie on-to that mageste Of grete appollo. Ibid. (1460), Chron. (Rolls), 76. He [Pope Marcellus] wold not obey Maximiane, and thurifie.
2. trans. To perfume with incense; to burn incense before; to offer incense to; = CENSE v.1 1. Also transf. (quot. 1599).
1570. Foxe, A. & M. (ed. 2), 663/2. By thurifyeng or censing the aultars.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, 65. This herring … was sensed and thurified in the smoake.
1737. G. Smith, Cur. Relat., I. iii. 417. The while the Corps remains in the House, the Priest comes every Day to thurify it.
1851. Madden, Shrines & Sepulchres, I. 373. Several Priests … came next to thurify the body.
Hence Thurifying vbl. sb.
a. 1618. Sylvester, Tobacco Battered, 183. The … smoak of Thurifying Of Images.
