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

The camp, set up on a narrow strip of beach that ran beneath Gelidonya’s high cliffs, was sweltering hot and primitive, to say the least.

Read more on Literature

Soon, offices did so, too, especially in the sometimes sweltering American South.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Oval Office was quiet, bright, and sweltering.

Read more on Literature

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

Related Words

• broil 
• sweat 
• wilt