swelter

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to suffer or feel extremely uncomfortable because of intense heat

   Passengers began to swelter inside the crowded bus.

2. 2
   noun

   a period or condition of oppressive heat

   The afternoon swelter drove everyone indoors.

From Middle English swelteren, a frequentative of swelten, 'to die or faint,' from Old English sweltan and a Germanic verb meaning 'die.' The heat sense developed through the idea of being overcome or made faint by burning heat; the distant Indo-European root meant 'smolder or burn.'

Topics