c. 1400, "faint with heat," frequentative of swelten "be faint (especially with heat)," late 14c., from Old English sweltan "to die, perish," from Proto-Germanic *swiltan- (cognates: Old Saxon sweltan "to die," Old Norse svelta "to put to death, starve," Gothic sviltan "to die"), perhaps originally "to burn slowly," hence "to be overcome with heat or fever," from PIE root *swel- (2) "to shine, beam" (see Selene). From the same ancient root comes Old English swelan "to burn." For specialization of words meaning "to die," compare starve. Related: Sweltered; sweltering.
swelter (n.)
"a sweltering condition," 1851, from swelter (v.).
实用例句
1. He often work in a swelter.
他经常在酷热下工作.
来自辞典例句
2. I do not want to swelter through another hot and humid summer.
我可不想再汗流夹背地度过另外一个潮湿闷热的夏天了.
来自互联网
3. You who swelter in your clothes when the land lies hushed under the south wind.
