swell

swell · verb¹

1. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*swellaną“to swell”
2. Proto-West Germanic · inherited from*swellan
3. Old English · inherited fromswellan“to swell”
4. Middle English · inherited fromswellen
5. English todayswell

From Middle English swellen, from Old English swellan (“to swell”), from Proto-West Germanic *swellan, from Proto-Germanic *swellaną (“to swell”), of unknown origin. Cognate with Saterland Frisian swälle (“to swell”), West Frisian swolle (“to swell”), Dutch zwellen (“to swell”), Low German swellen (“to swell”), German schwellen (“to swell”), Swedish svälla (“to swell”), Icelandic svella. The adjective may derive from the noun.

swell · noun²

1. Middle English · inherited fromswelle
2. English todayswell

From Middle English swelle, from the verb swellen (modern swell).

swell · adjective, adverb³

From the noun "swell" (a person dressed in an elegant manner).

Words from the same roots