See Also: smoulder(dictionary)
smoulder(dictionary)

smoulder (iou)



smoulder verb & noun. Also *smolder. LME.

A. verb.
verb trans. Smother, suffocate. Long obsolete exc. dial. LME.
verb intrans. Burn slowly with smoke but without flame. LME.
fig.: E. F. Benson Little bits of reflected sky, in which the starlight smouldered.
b. fig. Exist or continue in a suppressed or concealed state; (of emotions etc.) burn internally or invisibly; (of a person) show or feel silent or suppressed anger, resentment, etc. E19.
L. Strachey Opposition to the whole scheme, which had long been smouldering..suddenly burst forth. J. P. Hennessy His resentment at..his mother's long desertion smouldered on. A. C. Clarke Brant was still smouldering slightly from the major's reprimand.
b. noun.
Smoky vapour; smoke from smouldering or slow combustion. LME.
A slow-burning fire; smouldering ashes. M16.
? From E17 rare exc. as smouldering ppl adjective until revived by Sir Walter Scott and others in E19.
smoulderingly adverb with smouldering L19.
smouldery adjective suffocating, stifling L16-M17.