Webster's English Dictionary

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swelter

1. swel.ter \'swel-t*r\ \-t(*-)rin\ vb or swel.ter.ing [ME sweltren, freq. 
   of swelten to die, be overcome by heat, fr. OE]sweltan to die; akin to OHG 
   swelzan to burn up and prob. to OE swelan to burn : to suffer, sweat, or be 
   faint from heat  1: to oppress with heat  archaic  2: EXUDE {~ed venom 
   -Shak.} 
2. swelter n 1: a state of oppressive heat  2: WELTER  3: an excited or 
   overwrought state of mind : SWEAT {in a ~)>