swelter
[ swel-ter ]
/ ˈswɛl tər /
verb (used without object)
to suffer from oppressive heat.
verb (used with object)
to oppress with heat.
Archaic. to exude, as venom.
noun
a sweltering condition.
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decorum
Origin of swelter
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 -er6
OTHER WORDS FROM swelter
un·swel·tered, adjectiveWords nearby swelter
swelled head, have a, swelled-headed, swellfish, swellhead, swelling, swelter, sweltering, sweltry, swenson, swept, swept volume
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for swelter
British Dictionary definitions for swelter
swelter
/ (ˈswɛltə) /
verb
(intr) to suffer under oppressive heat, esp to sweat and feel faint
(tr) archaic to exude (venom)
(tr) rare to cause to suffer under oppressive heat
noun
a sweltering condition (esp in the phrase in a swelter)
oppressive humid heat
Word Origin for swelter
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
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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