swelter

American  

[swel-ter] / ˈswɛl tər /

verb (used without object)

1. to suffer from oppressive heat.

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verb (used with object)

1. to oppress with heat.

2. Archaic. to exude, as venom.

noun

1. a sweltering condition.

swelter British  

/ 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

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noun

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

2. oppressive humid heat

Other Word Forms

• unsweltered adjective

Etymology

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 -er ⁶

Example Sentences

Cubans are going hungry, suffering from spreading disease and sleeping outdoors with no electricity to power fans through the sweltering nights.

From The Wall Street Journal

The first day of Hanukkah was a sweltering one in Sydney - a perfect afternoon to spend at Australia's most iconic beach.

From BBC

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.

From Literature

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

From The Wall Street Journal

The Oval Office was quiet, bright, and sweltering.

From Literature

Related Words

• broil
• sweat
• wilt