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Webster 1913 Edition

Swell

Swell

,
Verb.
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.
svälla
.]
1.
To grow larger; to dilate or extend the exterior surface or dimensions, by matter added within, or by expansion of the inclosed substance;
as, the legs
swell
in dropsy; a bruised part
swells
; a bladder
swells
by inflation.
2.
To increase in size or extent by any addition; to increase in volume or force;
as, a river
swells
, and overflows its banks; sounds
swell
or diminish.
3.
To rise or be driven into waves or billows; to heave;
as, in tempest, the ocean
swells
into waves
.
4.
To be puffed up or bloated;
as, to
swell
with pride
.
You
swell
at the tartan, as the bull is said to do at scarlet.
Sir W. Scott.
5.
To be inflated; to belly;
as, the sails
swell
.
6.
To be turgid, bombastic, or extravagant;
as,
swelling
words; a
swelling
style.
7.
To protuberate; to bulge out;
as, a cask
swells
in the middle
.
8.
To be elated; to rise arrogantly.
Your equal mind yet
swells
not into state.
Dryden.
9.
To grow upon the view; to become larger; to expand.
“Monarchs to behold the swelling scene!”
Shak.
10.
To become larger in amount;
as, many little debts added,
swell
to a great amount
.
11.
To act in a pompous, ostentatious, or arrogant manner; to strut; to look big.
Here he comes,
swelling
like a turkey cock.
Shakespeare

Swell

,
Verb.
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
.
[The Church]
swells
her high, heart-cheering tone.
Keble.
2.
To aggravate; to heighten.
It is low ebb with his accuser when such peccadilloes are put to
swell
the charge.
Atterbury.
3.
To raise to arrogance; to puff up; to inflate;
as, to be
swelled
with pride or haughtiness
.
4.
(Mus.)
To augment gradually in force or loudness, as the sound of a note.

Swell

,
Noun.
1.
The act of swelling.
2.
Gradual increase.
Specifically:
(a)
Increase or augmentation in bulk; protuberance.
(b)
Increase in height; elevation; rise.
Little River affords navigation during a
swell
to within three miles of the Miami.
Jefferson.
(c)
Increase of force, intensity, or volume of sound.
Music arose with its voluptuous
swell
.
Byron.
(d)
Increase of power in style, or of rhetorical force.
The
swell
and subsidence of his periods.
Landor.
3.
A gradual ascent, or rounded elevation, of land;
as, an extensive plain abounding with little
swells
.
4.
A wave, or billow; especially, a succession of large waves; the roll of the sea after a storm;
as, a heavy
swell
sets into the harbor
.
The
swell

Of the long waves that roll in yonder bay.
Tennyson.
The gigantic
swells
and billows of the snow.
Hawthorne.
5.
(Mus.)
A gradual increase and decrease of the volume of sound; the crescendo and diminuendo combined; – generally indicated by the sign.
6.
A showy, dashing person; a dandy.
[Slang]
Ground swell
.
See under
Ground
.
–
Organ swell
(Mus.)
,
a certain number of pipes inclosed in a box, the uncovering of which by means of a pedal produces increased sound.
–
Swell shark
(Zool.)
,
a small shark (
Scyllium ventricosum
) of the west coast of North America, which takes in air when caught, and swells up like a swellfish.

Swell

,
Adj.
Having the characteristics of a person of rank and importance; showy; dandified; distinguished;
as, a
swell
person; a
swell
neighborhood.
[Slang]
Swell mob
.
See under
Mob
.
[Slang]

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