sweltry, a. Now arch. and dial.
(ˈswɛltrɪ)
Also 6–7 sweltrie, 7–8 swealtry, sweltery.
[f. swelter v. + -y. Cf. sultry.]
1. Of heat, weather, etc.: Oppressively hot, sweltering, sultry.
| 1576 Turberv. Venerie 118 The vehement sweltrie heate thereof [sc. the sun]. 1661 Evelyn Fumifugium Misc. Writ. (1805) i. 216 The drier aer is generally the more salutary and healthy, so it be not too sweltery. 1775 Adair Amer. Ind. 7 When they are waddling, whooping, and prancing it away, in their sweltery town-houses,..around the reputed holy fire. 1843 Blackw. Mag. LIII. 499 The fierce heat of the sun had rendered the atmosphere sweltry and oppressive. |
b. transf. of feeling or action.
| 1748 Thomson Cast. Indol. i. xi, The wretched thrall Of bitter dropping sweat, of swealtry pain. 1819 [H. Busk] Vestriad iv. 801 Labouring thro' the sweltry dance. |
2. Oppressed or languishing with heat.
| 1635 J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Banish'd Virg. 121 Phebus now hastened to bathe his swealtry Steeds in the foaming Ocean. 1796 Coleridge Destiny of Nations 150 Along the rough-hewn bench The sweltry man had stretched him. |