swelter

[swel-ter]

verb (used without object)

1. to suffer from oppressive heat.

verb (used with object)

1. to oppress with heat.

2. Archaic.,  to exude, as venom.

noun

1. a sweltering condition.

swelter

/ ˈswɛltə /

verb

1. (intr) to suffer under oppressive heat, esp to sweat and feel faint

2. archaic,  (tr) to exude (venom)

3. rare,  (tr) to cause to suffer under oppressive heat

noun

1. a sweltering condition (esp in the phrase in a swelter )

2. oppressive humid heat

Other Word Forms

• unsweltered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of swelter¹

1375–1425; late Middle English swelt ( e ) ren (v.), equivalent to swelt ( en ) to be overcome with heat ( Old English sweltan to die; cognate with Old Norse svelta, Gothic swiltan ) + -eren -er ⁶

Word History and Origins

Origin of swelter¹

C15 swelten, from Old English sweltan to die; related to Old Norse svelta to starve, Old High German swelzan to burn with passion; see _sultry

Example Sentences

Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the weather agency said Friday.

Read more on Barron's

He and his family settled in a small room with bunk beds and a TV, one of many rooms in a large hangar in the sweltering desert.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In “Sacrament,” Straight turns her singular focus to a handful of nurses camping in a wagon train of funky, sweltering trailers near the hospital they call Our Lady.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He said a gaping hole in the ceiling exposed "thick black mold" underneath, and that broken air conditioning forced prisoners to endure sweltering heat.

Read more on BBC

Children ran and played in the water, couples with full beach setups caught a slight buzz in the sweltering heat and American flags decorated the sands like a planet conquered.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• broil 
• sweat 
• wilt