fumigate [M16th] We would fumigate a room today if we wanted to disinfect it, but the earliest use was ‘to perfume’ [M16th], of which it is also the root. Perfume was originally stressed on the second syllable, reflecting how it goes back to Latin per ‘thoroughly’ and fumare from the pleasant smell of incense. Fumigate comes ultimately from Latin fumus ‘smoke’, which also gives us fume [LME].