Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

sweltering

 - 5 dictionary results

swel⋅ter⋅ing

  [swel-ter-ing]
Use sweltering in a Sentence
–adjective
1. suffering oppressive heat.
2. characterized by oppressive heat; sultry.
Origin:
1565–75; swelter + -ing 2

Related forms:
swel⋅ter⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

swel⋅ter

  [swel-ter]
–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 ME swelt(e)ren (v.), equiv. to swelt(en) to be overcome with heat (OE sweltan to die; c. ON svelta, Goth swiltan) + -eren -er 6
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To sweltering
swel·ter   (swěl'tər)   
v.   swel·tered, swel·ter·ing, swel·ters

v.   intr.
To suffer from oppressive heat.
v.   tr.

  1. To affect with oppressive heat.

  2. Archaic To exude (venom, for example).

n.  A condition of oppressive heat.

[Middle English swelteren, frequentative of swelten, to faint from heat, from Old English sweltan, to perish.]
swel·ter·ing   (swěl'tər-ĭng)   
adj.  

  1. Oppressively hot and humid; sultry.

  2. Suffering from oppressive heat.

swel'ter·ing·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
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, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see sweltering on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way