Swell

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) Increase or augmentation in bulk; protuberance.

(2): ( v. i.) 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.

(3): ( v. i.) 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.

(4): ( v. i.) To rise or be driven into waves or billows; to heave; as, in tempest, the ocean swells into waves.

(5): ( v. i.) To be puffed up or bloated; as, to swell with pride.

(6): ( v. i.) To be inflated; to belly; as, the sails swell.

(7): ( v. i.) To be turgid, bombastic, or extravagant; as, swelling words; a swelling style.

(8): ( v. i.) To protuberate; to bulge out; as, a cask swells in the middle.

(9): ( v. i.) To be elated; to rise arrogantly.

(10): ( v. i.) To grow upon the view; to become larger; to expand.

(11): ( v. i.) To become larger in amount; as, many little debts added, swell to a great amount.

(12): ( v. i.) To act in a pompous, ostentatious, or arrogant manner; to strut; to look big.

(13): ( v. t.) 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.

(14): ( v. t.) To aggravate; to heighten.

(15): ( v. t.) To raise to arrogance; to puff up; to inflate; as, to be swelled with pride or haughtiness.

(16): ( v. t.) To augment gradually in force or loudness, as the sound of a note.

(17): ( n.) The act of swelling.

(18): ( n.) Gradual increase.

(19): ( a.) Having the characteristics of a person of rank and importance; showy; dandified; distinguished; as, a swell person; a swell neighborhood.

(20): ( n.) Increase in height; elevation; rise.

(21): ( n.) Increase of force, intensity, or volume of sound.

(22): ( n.) Increase of power in style, or of rhetorical force.

(23): ( n.) A gradual ascent, or rounded elevation, of land; as, an extensive plain abounding with little swells.

(24): ( n.) 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.

(25): ( n.) A gradual increase and decrease of the volume of sound; the crescendo and diminuendo combined; - generally indicated by the sign.

(26): ( n.) A showy, dashing person; a dandy.

King James Dictionary

SWELL, pret. swelled pp. swelled. Swollen is nearly obsolete..

1. To grow larger to dilate or extend the exterior surface or dimensions by matter added to the interior part, or by 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 gloated 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. 8. To protuberate to bulge out as, a cask swells in the middle. 9. To be elated to rise into arrogance.

Your equal mind yet swells not into state.

10. To grow more violent as, a moderate passion may swell to fury. 11. To grow upon the view to become larger.

--And monarachs to be hold the swelling scene.

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 turkey cock.

15. To rise in altitude as, land swells into hills.

SWELL, To increase the size, bulk or dimensions of to cause to rise, dilate or increase. Rains and dissolving snow swell the rivers in spring, and cause floods. Jordan is swelled by the snows of mount Libanus.

1. To aggravate to highten.

It is low ebb with the accuser, when such peccadillos are put to swell the charge.

2. To raise to arrogance as, to be swelled with pride or haughtiness. 3. To enlarge. These sums swell the amount of taxes to a fearful size. These victories served to swell the fame of the commander. 4. In music, to augment, as the sound of a note.

SWELL, n. Extension of bulk.

1. Increase, as sound as the swell of a note. 2. A gradual ascent or elevation of land as an extensive plain abounding with little swells. 3. A wave or billow more generally, a succession of large waves as, a heavy swell sets into the harbor. Swell is also used to denote the waves or fluctuation of the sea after a storm, and the waves that roll in and break upon the shore. 4. In an organ, a certain number of pipes inclosed in a box, which being uncovered, produce a swell of sound.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

swel ( צבה , cābhāh ): In the ordeal of the Water of Jealousy described in   Numbers 5:11-31 (P), the effect on the unfaithful wife ot the drinking of the holy water was to cause the thigh to fall away (Revised Version) or rot (the King James Version) and the abdomen to "swell." This ceremonial was a direct appeal to the judgment of God, for there was nothing in the holy water (taken from the laver) or the dust of the temple which was mixed with it to produce this effect. In the Talmudic tract Ṣōtāh there are given many rabbinical opinions and particulars as to the procedure in later times. Apparently from the passage in Numbers, the judgment speedily followed the appeal, but according to Ṣōtāh , iii. 4, it might be postponed even for four years, and in v. 1, it is said to have produced the same effect on the adulterer as on the unfaithful wife. We have no details as to the nature or permanency of the swelling.

"Swell" as the translation of another word, bācēḳ , is used in the sense of blistering of the feet from long tramping. Both in   Deuteronomy 8:4 and   Nehemiah 9:21 it is said that in spite of their long wilderness marches the feet of the Israelites did not swell. This was a token of divine protection. See Swollen .

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

in music, a set of pipes in an organ with a separate key-board, and forming a separate department, which are capable of being increased or diminished in intensity of sound by the action of a pedal on a series of shades or shutters overlapping each other like Venetian window-blinds, within which the pipes in question are enclosed. On a well-constructed swell a practiced performer can imitate not only a gradual crescendo and diminuendo, but also a forzando, a very small opening sufficing to make an immediate burst upon the ear; while, when the shutters are closed, an imitation of an echo is produced.