Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SWELL, v.i. [pret. swelled; pp. swelled. Swollen is near obsolete. Sax. swellan; D. zwellen; G. schwellen; Dan. svæller; Sw. svälla. Qu. is it not from the verb to well, or its root?]

1. To grow larger; to dilate or extend the exterior surface or dimensions, by matter added to the interior part, or expansion of the inclosed substance. Thus the legs swell in dropsy; a bruised part swells; a tumor swells; a bladder swells by inflation.
2. To increase in size or extent by any addition; as, a river swells and overflows its banks.
3. To rise or be driven into waves or billows. In a tempest, the ocean swells into waves mountain high.
4. To be puffed up or bloated; as, to swell with pride.
5. To be bloated with anger; to be exasperated. He swells with rage.
6. To be inflated; to belly; as, swelling, sails.
7. To be turgid or bombastic; as, swelling words; a swelling style. – Roscommon.
8. To protuberate; to bulge out; as, a cask swabs in the middle.
9. To be elated; to rise into arrogance. Your equal mind yet swells not into state. – Dryden.
10. To grow more violent; as, a moderate passion may to fury.
11. To grow upon the view; to become larger. And monarchs to behold the swelling scene. – Shak.
12. To become larger in amount. Many little debts added, swell to a great amount.
13. To become louder; as, a sound gradually swells as it approaches.
14. To strut; to look big. Swelling like a turky-cock. – Shak.
15. To rise in altitude; as, land swells into hills.