outswellv.
/ˌaʊtˈswɛl/, U.S. /ˌaʊtˈswɛl/ 1. transitive. To surpass in or by swelling; to surpass in size, quantity, or degree; to swell out more than.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > expansion or enlargement > expand or enlarge [verb (transitive)] > distend > swell > swell more than
outswell1609
1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida iv. vi. 9 Blow villaine, till thy sphered Bias cheeke, Out-swell the collick of puft Aquilon. View more context for this quotation
1616 B. Jonson Speeches at Prince Henries Barriers in Wks. I. 972 One tumor drown'd another, billowes stroue To out-swell ambition, water ayre out-droue.
1653 J. Shirley Court Secret iv. 59 Why does thy grief appear So rude to out-swell mine? he was my Son.
1766 T. Amory Life John Buncle II. xiii. 502 With warm petitions most men ply The gods, their bags may multiply; That riches may grow high and rank, Outswelling others in the bank.
1848 W. Irving Hist. N.Y. (rev. ed.) vi. i. 310 Striving to outstrut and outswell each other like a couple of belligerent turkeycocks.
1854 New Monthly Mag. 102 340 Glad nuptial shouts outswell the din of war.
1995 Pittsburgh Post-Gaz. (Nexis) 23 Sept. c12 Outswelling last year's attendance, about 750 attended Thursday evening's dinner and speech by the National Public Radio's Susan Stamberg.
1998 Charleston (W. Va.) Gaz. (Nexis) 13 July 4 a I was still keeping track of the top 10 population nations. Pakistan had outswelled Bangladesh, and the numbers were getting astonishing.
2.
a. transitive. To cause to swell out; to inflate (something).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > expansion or enlargement > expand or enlarge [verb (intransitive)] > distend > swell
swellOE
to-swellc1000
bolnec1325
pluma1398
bladderc1440
boldena1510
to bulk1551
hove1590
tympanize1607
outswell1612
tumefy1615
extuberate1623
heave1629
blister1644
puff1648
huff1656
intumesce1794
pluff1831
balloon1841
turgesce1864
tumesce1966
1612 J. Taylor Laugh & be Fat 39 If I on euery Epethite should write..No Reader then durst on my writings looke, They would so far out-swel thy boystrous booke.
1800 J. Hurdis Favorite Village iii. 122 Shudd'ring he sits, in horrent coat outswoln.
1827 R. Emmons Fredoniad III. xxi. 30 His eyeballs stare, Outswell'd with blood.
1883 G. H. Calvert Mirabeau ii. i. 49 Thou hast outswelled my being, given me a share In thy vast thoughts; a partner in thy wealth.
1937 Philos. Rev. 46 439 In one of those terminal notes which together outswell the essay, he intimates that writers on the philosophy of science..suffer from ignorance of chemistry.
b. intransitive. To swell out; to inflate. Chiefly poetic.
ΚΠ
1731 A. Hill Athelwold III. 43 Sorrow, like mine, Sinks the sad Heart too low, for Artifice, And my proud Soul out-swells, and floats above it.
1867 W. Morris Life & Death of Jason v. 89 The wind that made the fair white sail outswell.
1884 A. T. de Vere Sons Usnach in Poet. Wks. 299 Shriek after shriek out-swelled into a storm.
1892 F. W. L. Adams Songs Army of Night (ed. 2) 64 Then, as I stood, sweet sudden sounds out-swelling On the boon breeze, The church-bells' chiming echoes rang out, telling Of inland peace.
a1923 H. Trench Night under Monte Rosa in Poems (1924) 122 From cloud a threatening tor outswells.
3. transitive. To swell beyond (a boundary, limit, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > expansion or enlargement > expand or enlarge [verb (transitive)] > distend > swell > swell beyond (a point or limit)
outswell1658
1658 J. Hewitt Repentance & Conversion 185 The waters..outswelling and breaking down their banks, have overflown both our Church and State.
1659 T. Fuller Appeal Iniured Innocence ii. 69 But this outswelleth the proportion of my booke.
1749 A. Hill Gideon (rev. ed.) iii. viii. 124 Loud, and more loud, the rising Tumult grew..And, roaring wild, outswell'd Controul; and Order overthrew.
1796 S. Lee Almeyda II. ii. 27 His polish'd heart felt and inspir'd a love, Which, far outswelling this world's narrow bound, Both may delight to bear into a better!
1827 R. Emmons Fredoniad II. xiv. 128 Soon a thousand streams begin to roar; Outswell their barriers—sweep whole herds and flocks, And dash them headlong o'er the pointed rocks.
1849 H. Melville Mardi II. lviii. 245 How my stiff arm shivers to avenge you! 'Twere absolution for the matricide, to strike one rivet from your chains. My heart outswells its home!
1972 18th-cent. Stud. 6 168 Money is melted into ale; trade is in a kind of hurry; and towns outswell their bounds.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
v.1609