c. 1300 (implied in smoldering), "to smother, suffocate," related to Middle Dutch smolen, Low German smelen, Flemish smoel "hot," from Proto-Germanic *smel-, *smul-. The intransitive meaning "burn and smoke without flame" is first recorded 1520s, fell from use 17c. (though smoldering persisted in poetry) and was revived 19c. Figurative sense "exist in a suppressed state; burn inwardly" is from 1810. Related: Smouldered; smolderingly. Middle English also had a noun smolder meaning "smoky vapor, a stifling smoke."
实用例句
1. The smolder became a blaze.
焖火变为烈焰。
来自辞典例句
2. The smolder will soon be a flame.
闷火很快变为烈焰.
来自辞典例句
3. It can smolder undetected for hours, then suddenly explode in fiery destruction.
