swell

swell
{{11}}swell (n.) early 13c., "a morbid swelling," from SWELL (Cf. swell) (v.). In ref. to a rise of the sea, it is attested from c.1600. The meaning "wealthy, elegant person" is first recorded 1786; hence the adj. meaning "fashionably dressed or equipped" (1810), both from the notion of "puffed-up, pompous" behavior. The sense of "good, excellent" first occurs 1897, and as a stand-alone expression of satisfaction it is recorded from 1930 in Amer.Eng.
{{12}}swell (v.) O.E. swellan "grow or make bigger" (past tense sweall, pp. swollen), from P.Gmc. *swelnanan (Cf. O.S. swellan, O.N. svella, O.Fris. swella, M.Du. swellen, Du. zwellen, O.H.G. swellan, Ger. schwellen), of unknown origin.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Swell — Swell, n. 1. The act of swelling. [1913 Webster] 2. Gradual increase. Specifically: (a) Increase or augmentation in bulk; protuberance. (b) Increase in height; elevation; rise. [1913 Webster] Little River affords navigation during a swell to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Swell — could refer to: *Swell (ocean), a formation of long wavelength ocean surface waves *Swell (band), an indie rock band from San Francisco *Swell, Gloucestershire, England *Swell (bookbinding), a term in bookbinding *Swellshark, a catshark * Swell… …   Wikipedia

  • Swell — Swell, v. i. [imp. {Swelled}; p. p. {Swelled} or {Swollen}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Swelling}.] [AS. swellan; akin to D. zwellen, OS. & OHG. swellan, G. schwellen, Icel. svella, Sw. sv[ a]lla.] 1. To grow larger; to dilate or extend the exterior surface …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Swell — Swell, a. Having the characteristics of a person of rank and importance; showy; dandified; distinguished; as, a swell person; a swell neighborhood. [Slang] [1913 Webster] {Swell mob}. See under {Mob}. [Slang] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Swell — Swell, v. t. 1. To increase the size, bulk, or dimensions of; to cause to rise, dilate, or increase; as, rains and dissolving snow swell the rivers in spring; immigration swells the population. [1913 Webster] [The Church] swells her high, heart… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Swell — steht für: Swell (Band), eine US amerikanische Indie Band Swell ist der Nachname folgender Personen: Steve Swell (* 1954), US amerikanischer Jazzposaunist Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • swell — [adj] wonderful awesome, cool*, dandy*, deluxe, desirable, excellent, exclusive, fashionable, fine, fly*, grand, groovy*, keen, marvelous, neat, nifty, plush, posh, ritzy*, smart, stylish, super, terrific; concepts 548,574 Ant. bad, horrible,… …   New thesaurus

  • Swell — est un groupe américain de rock indépendant fondé en 1989 à San Francisco par David Freel (guitares) et Sean Kirkpatrick (batterie). Sommaire 1 Discographie 1.1 Albums 1.2 Compilations …   Wikipédia en Français

  • swell — swel vi, swelled; swelled or swol·len swō lən; swell·ing to become distended or puffed up <her ankle swelled> …   Medical dictionary

  • Swell — [swɛl] der; s, s <zu engl. to swell »sich brüsten, prahlen«, eigtl. »anschwellen«> (veraltet) aufgeblasener Mensch, Stutzer …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

  • swell — [swel] vi. swelled, swelled or swollen, swelling [ME swellen < OE swellan; akin to Ger schwellen, ON svella] 1. to increase in volume or become larger as a result of pressure from within; expand; dilate 2. to become larger at a particular… …   English World dictionary

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