Searing
/ˈsɪə.rɪŋ/noun
Extremely hot, painful, or intense; also, the present participle of sear.
Did you know?The verb *sear* originally meant to burn or scorch the surface of something, and that same ancient root also gave English the word *sore*, linking heat, injury, and pain in one old linguistic line.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*swēr-
“To burn, sear, or make dark by heat.”
Old English
English
sēarian
“To dry up, wither, or become sore/burned.”
Middle English
English
seren
“To scorch or burn the surface of something.”
14th Century
English
sear
“To burn or scorch superficially; to make dry and hard by heat.”
Modern English
English
searing
“Burning intensely or causing a sharp, intense sensation.”