(c) Increase of force, intensity, or volume of sound.
Music arose with its voluptuous swell.
Byron. (d) Increase of power in style, or of rhetorical force.
The swell and subsidence of his periods.
Landor. 3. A gradual ascent, or rounded elevation, of land; as, an extensive plain abounding with little swells.
4. 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.
The swell
Of the long waves that roll in yonder bay.
Tennyson.
The gigantic swells and billows of the snow.
Hawthorne. 5. (Mus.) A gradual increase and decrease of the volume of sound; the crescendo and diminuendo
combined; — generally indicated by the sign.
6. A showy, dashing person; a dandy. [Slang]
Ground swell. See under Ground. - - Organ swell (Mus.), a certain number of pipes inclosed in
a box, the uncovering of which by means of a pedal produces increased sound. — Swell shark (Zoöl.),
a small shark (Scyllium ventricosum) of the west coast of North America, which takes in air when caught,
and swells up like a swellfish.
Swell
(Swell), a. Having the characteristics of a person of rank and importance; showy; dandified; distinguished; as,
a swell person; a swell neighborhood. [Slang]
Swell mob. See under Mob. [Slang]
Swelldom
(Swell"dom) n. People of rank and fashion; the class of swells, collectively. [Jocose]
Swellfish
(Swell"fish`) n. (Zoöl.) Any plectognath fish that dilates itself, as the bur fish, puffer, or diodon.
Swelling
(Swell"ing), n.
1. The act of that which swells; as, the swelling of rivers in spring; the swelling of the breast with pride.
Rise to the swelling of the voiceless sea.
Coleridge. 2. A protuberance; a prominence; especially (Med.), an unnatural prominence or protuberance; as, a
scrofulous swelling.
The superficies of such plates are not even, but have many cavities and swellings.
Sir I. Newton. Swellish
(Swell"ish), a. Dandified; stylish. [Slang]
Swelltoad
(Swell"toad`) n. (Zoöl.) A swellfish.
Swelt
(Swelt) obs. imp. of Swell.
Swelt
(Swelt), v. i. [OE. swelten to die, to swoon or faint, AS. sweltan to die; akin to OD. swelten to
hunger, to fail, OS. sweltan to die, Icel. svelta to die, to hunger, Sw. svälta to hunger, Dan. sulte,
Goth. sviltan to die. Cf. Swelter, Sweltry.]
