odour
UK[ˈəʊdə(r)]US[ˈoʊdər]
n
a smell, especially one that is unpleasant
Etymology
The word 'odour' entered English in the late 13th century via Anglo-French 'odour', from Latin 'odor' meaning 'smell, scent, fragrance'. The Latin term itself is traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root h₃ed- ('to smell'), which also gave rise to the Greek 'ozein' ('to smell') and the Old English 'ætt' ('stench'). The semantic journey from the neutral PIE concept of smelling to the Latin 'odor' (which could be pleasant or unpleasant) narrowed in later English usage, where 'odour' often carries a negative or strong connotation, distinct from the more neutral 'scent' or 'aroma'.
Analysis
The word 'odour' is a simplex form borrowed as a whole from Latin. It does not contain separable, productive morphemes in modern English spelling.
Examples
The kitchen was filled with the odour of burnt toast.
A faint medicinal odour lingered in the hospital corridor.
The chemical plant was accused of releasing noxious odours into the air.