Cent 僅當名詞用,意為「分」,是美國、加拿大及其他一些國家面額最小的貨幣單位,等於 dollar (元) 的 1%,亦即 100 cents = 1 dollar。Cent 源自拉丁文的 centum,意為「一百」。Cent- 迄今仍被用作表示一百的字首,如 centenarian (百歲人瑞)、centenary/centennial (美) (一百週年;一百週年紀念)。
Scent 用作名詞時意為「氣味,通常指香味;香水;(人或動物的) 氣味;線索,蹤跡;跡象」,其中除了「香水」為不可數名詞外,其餘意思皆為可數名詞,如 The sweet fresh scent of newly baked bread filled the shop. (剛出爐的麵包香味瀰漫著整間店);People like the food with a rich flavor and scent. (人們都喜歡味道甘美、香氣濃郁的食物);The girl wore/put on too much scent. (那女孩擦太多香水了);Police dogs easily picked up the murderer’s scent in the forest. (警犬在森林裡輕易就嗅出殺人犯的氣味);He’s got a strong scent of anxiety. (他出現了焦慮的強烈跡象);We were soon on the scent of the enemy. (我們很快就追蹤到/掌握了敵人的蹤跡);The enemy managed to throw us off the scent. (敵人成功地使我們失去了追蹤的方向/線索)。
Scent 亦可當及物動詞用,意為「使充滿…氣味;嗅到或嗅出…氣味;察覺,預感」,如 The smell of narcissi scented the room. (水仙花的香味瀰漫整個房間);The dogs scented a fox and ran off after it. (群狗嗅到一隻狐狸的氣味便追了上去);Peter scented something suspicious in Gary’s smile. (彼得察覺到蓋瑞的微笑中有些可疑)。
有個由當動詞用的 scent 所構成的片語值得一提,那就是 to scent blood。它的字面意思為「嗅到血腥味」,但比喻為「察覺到有利或勝利機會的到來」。這裡的血腥味是指你的眼中釘、競爭對手或潛在競爭對手「流血」所散發出來的。當他們受傷、犯錯、遭遇麻煩或陷入困境時,那就表示情勢對你有利,因此拔除眼中釘、更上層樓或取得勝利的機會來了,如 The manager has already made some serious errors of judgment and it is clear that other employees scent blood and are eager to take his place. (經理已經犯了一些嚴重的判斷錯誤,顯然地,其他員工都察覺到情勢對他們有利,急不可耐地想要取而代之)。
Sent 為 send (寄,發送;派遣…) 的過去式和過去分詞,如 Mary sent me an email and asked me whether I could go to her birthday party. (瑪麗寄電子郵件給我,問我是否可以參加她的生日派對);Please have this parcel sent to Mrs. Anderson. (請派人把這個包裹送給安德森女士)。