swelter
Use Swelter in a sentence
tər verb (used without object)
1.
to suffer from oppressive heat.
verb (used with object)
2.
to oppress with heat.
3.
Archaic. to exude, as venom.
noun
4.
a sweltering condition.
Origin:
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
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
Related forms
un·swel·tered, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To swelter
Collins
World English Dictionary
swelter (ˈswɛltə) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 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 |
| —n | |
| 4. | a sweltering condition (esp in the phrase in a swelter) |
| 5. | oppressive humid heat |
| [C15 swelten, from Old English sweltan to die; related to Old Norse svelta to starve, Old High German swelzan to burn with passion; see | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
00:10
Swelter
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is yaff. Does it mean:
| to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle. |
| to bark; yelp. |
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
swelter
c.1403, frequentative of swelten "be faint (especially with heat)," c.1386, from O.E. sweltan "to die," from P.Gmc. *swel- (cf. O.S. sweltan "to die," O.N. svelta "to put to death, starve," Goth. sviltan "to die"), originally "to burn slowly," hence "to be overcome with heat or fever;" also the source
of O.E. swelan "to burn," from PIE base *swel- "to shine, burn" (see Selene). For specialization of words meaning "to die," cf. starve.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
Example sentences
Museum curators often open their best shows in the fall, when the cooling off from the summer swelter seems to spark energy.
Act now be sure you won't swelter and suffer during the hot humid days and nights.
But he also knows that he is going to swelter, and maybe stumble, and possibly snag a sleeve in a car or bus door.
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