smolder
or smoul·der
[smohl-der]
- to burn without flame; undergo slow or suppressed combustion.
- to exist or continue in a suppressed state or without outward demonstration: Hatred smoldered beneath a polite surface.
- to display repressed feelings, as of indignation, anger, or the like: to smolder with rage.
Show More
- dense smoke resulting from slow or suppressed combustion.
- a smoldering fire.
Show More
Origin of smolder
1275–1325; (noun) Middle English smolder smoky vapor, dissimilated variant of smorther smother; (v.) Middle English (as present participle smolderende), derivative of the noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for smolder
Contemporary Examples
The embers of guilt over the entire episode are placed deep within Hilly, where it will smolder for the rest of his life.
Nevertheless, it continues to smolder away in Chicago, posing a potential threat to the Obama administration.
Arson…Whole streets of tenements and warehouses abandoned to smolder.
Rob can just sort of stand there and look at something and start to smolder.
Historical Examples
There was no longer a smolder in Latisan—it was all a red flame!
Joan of Arc of the North WoodsHolman Day
The flame of discontent, nevertheless, continued to smolder.
The Hispanic Nations of the New WorldWilliam R. Shepherd
The decks of the Savissan craft were beginning to smolder, and her arrow fire was weakening.
The Golden Amazons of VenusJohn Murray Reynolds
Conan's eyes began to smolder ominously, but he trod warily into the chamber, his sword ready.
Shadows in ZamboulaRobert E. Howard
For a Zamboulan dancer to blush would be an impossibility, but a smolder of anger mingled with the fear in Zabibi's dilated eyes.
Shadows in ZamboulaRobert E. Howard
smolder
- the US spelling of smoulder
Show More
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for smolder
v.
c.1300 (implied in smoldering), "to smother, suffocate," related to Middle Dutch smolen, Low German smelen, Flemish smoel "hot," from Proto-Germanic *smel-, *smul-. The intransitive meaning "burn and smoke without flame" is first recorded 1520s, fell from use 17c. (though smoldering persisted in poetry) and was revived 19c. Figurative sense "exist in a suppressed state; burn inwardly" is from 1810. Related: Smouldered; smolderingly. Middle English also had a noun smolder meaning "smoky vapor, a stifling smoke."
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper