Swollen
/ˈswoʊlən/noun
Enlarged or puffed up, especially from inflammation or fluid.
Did you know?Swollen is the past participle of swell, and its deep ancestry goes back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning “to swell” or “grow,” the same old force behind several words for rising, expanding, and fullness.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*swel-
“to swell, grow thick, or become swollen”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*swellaną
“to swell, enlarge, or rise up”
Old English
English
swellan
“to swell, become enlarged, or grow in size”
Middle English
English
swollen
“past participle of swell; having become enlarged”
Modern English
English
swollen
“enlarged or puffed up, especially from fluid or inflammation”