sultryadj.
/ˈsʌltri/, U.S. /ˈsəltri/ 1.
a. Of the weather, the atmosphere, etc.: Oppressively hot and moist; sweltering.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > hot weather > [adjective] > oppressively
sweltry1575
sultry1594
sweltering1641
mooth1768
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > [adjective] > having or communicating much heat > oppressively
swoly1496
faint1525
swaltish1530
sweltinga1542
sultering1581
swelty1586
sultry1594
swoltery1603
swole-hot1721
sweltering1845
1594 T. Kyd tr. R. Garnier Cornelia ii. i. 133 The spring, Whom Sommers pride (with sultrie heate) pursues.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Hamlet (1623) v. ii. 99 Ham. The winde is Northerly... Mee thinkes it is very soultry [1604 sully], and hot for my Complexion.
1671 R. Bohun Disc. Wind 65 The complexion of the Air is generally more silent..in Soultry Weather.
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. vii. 213 We had now for several days together close and sultry weather.
1845 J. Coulter Adventures Pacific viii. 102 In this valley it is much more sultry than on the outside of the hilly range.
1871 M. E. Braddon Fenton's Quest i A warm summer evening, with a sultry haze brooding over the level landscape.
b. Of places, seasons of the year, etc.: Characterized by such weather.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > hot weather > [adjective] > oppressively > specifically of places or seasons
sultry1620
1620–6 F. Quarles Feast for Wormes 473 in Wks. (1880) II. 13 A sowltry Summer's euentide.
1709 A. Pope Summer in Poet. Misc.: 6th Pt. vi. 735 When weary Reapers quit the sultry Field.
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. v. 181 The coast of Brazil is extremely sultry.
1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho III. vii. 212 A beautiful evening, that had succeeded to a sultry day.
1836 W. Irving Astoria II. 274 The rigorous winters and sultry summers.
1865 F. Parkman Huguenots i, in Pioneers of France in New World 6 They..pierced the sultry intricacies of tropical forests.
c. Of the sun, etc.: Producing oppressive heat. poetic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > [adjective] > generating or producing heat > specific
fracedinous1669
sultry1697
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis vii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 409 Such as born beneath the burning Sky, And sultry Sun betwixt the Tropicks lye.
1709 A. Pope Summer in Poet. Misc.: 6th Pt. vi. 732 The sultry Sirius burns the thirsty Plains.
1785 W. Cowper Task vi. 297 Neither mist, Nor freezing sky nor sultry, checking me.
1804 Campbell Turkish Lady 5 Day her sultry fires had wasted.
1817 T. Moore Lalla Rookh 50 When Day had hid his sultry flame Behind the palms of Baramoule.
2. Figurative and allusive uses.
a. Chiefly poetic.
(a) Associated with oppressive heat; characterized by the overpowering heat of toil; hot with toil.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > [adjective] > associated with or characterized by heat > by or with oppressive heat
sultry1638
1638 J. Milton Lycidas in Obsequies 21 in Justa Edouardo King What time the gray-fly winds her sultry horn.
1682 T. Southerne Loyal Brother iii. i You were not form'd to run in natures herd, Sultry, and elbow'd in the crowd of slaves.
?1824 S. T. Coleridge First Advent Love 5 The sultry hind..stays his reaping.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Palace of Art (rev. ed.) in Poems (new ed.) I. 141 The reapers at their sultry toil.
(b) Characterized by the heat of temper or passion; hot with anger or lust.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > [adjective]
irrec825
gramec893
wemodc897
wrothc950
bolghenc1000
gramelyc1000
hotOE
on fireOE
brathc1175
moodyc1175
to-bollenc1175
wrethfulc1175
wraw?c1225
agrameda1300
wrathfula1300
agremedc1300
hastivec1300
irousa1340
wretheda1340
aniredc1350
felonc1374
angryc1380
upreareda1382
jealous1382
crousea1400
grieveda1400
irefula1400
mada1400
teena1400
wraweda1400
wretthy14..
angryc1405
errevousa1420
wrothy1422
angereda1425
passionatec1425
fumous1430
tangylc1440
heavy1452
fire angry1490
wrothsomea1529
angerful?1533
wrothful?1534
wrath1535
provoked1538
warm1547
vibrant1575
chauffe1582
fuming1582
enfeloned1596
incensed1597
choleric1598
inflameda1600
raiseda1600
exasperate1601
angried1609
exasperated1611
dispassionate1635
bristlinga1639
peltish1648
sultry1671
on (also upon) the high ropes (also rope)1672
nangry1681
ugly1687
sorea1694
glimflashy1699
enraged1732
spunky1809
cholerous1822
kwaai1827
wrathy1828
angersome1834
outraged1836
irate1838
vex1843
raring1845
waxy1853
stiff1856
scotty1867
bristly1872
hot under the collar1879
black angry1894
spitfire1894
passionful1901
ignorant1913
hairy1914
snaky1919
steamed1923
uptight1934
broigus1937
lemony1941
ripped1941
pissed1943
crooked1945
teed off1955
ticked off1959
ripe1966
torqued1967
bummed1970
the mind > will > wish or inclination > desire > vehement or passionate desire > [adjective] > vehemently or passionately desirous
wildc725
ardentc1374
fierce1377
flagrant?1521
zealous1526
passionatea1530
heady1543
concupiscentious1555
passionative1593
luxurious1614
mada1627
concupitive1651
sultry1671
hot-tempered1673
ardurousa1770
wild1811
nympholeptic1818
concupiscenta1834
1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 1246 Stalking..in a sultrie chafe. View more context for this quotation
1713 A. Pope Windsor-Forest 19 His [sc. Pan's] shorter Breath with sultry Air Pants on her Neck.
1785 W. Cowper Task vi. 741 The clouds [are] The dust that waits upon his sultry march, When sin hath mov'd him, and his wrath is hot.
1893 F. W. L. Adams New Egypt 78 Sultry and imperious, brutally and pettily tyrannical to his own immediate entourage.
1893 F. Thompson Poppy in Poems iii With mouth wide a-pout for a sultry kiss.
b. colloquial or slang.
(a) ‘Spicy’, ‘smutty’.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > moral or spiritual impurity > indecency > [adjective]
unhonest13..
inhonest1340
undecent1563
broad1579
nasty1601
indecent1613
paw1668
paw-paw1723
improper1739
unproper1797
fie-fie1812
warm1814
blue1818
indecorous1829
off-colour1875
sultry1887
suggestive1888
scorching1890
juicy1923
gamey1945
1887 R. Kipling Bank Fraud in Civil & Mil. Gaz. 14 Apr. 4/2 Clean-built, careless men in the Army..told sultry stories till Riley got up and left the room.
1900 Westm. Gaz. 30 Jan. 4/3 A comedy of exceedingly sultry complexion.
(b) Of language: Lurid, ‘sulphurous’.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > malediction > [adjective] > strong, sulphurous (of language)
untowen13..
largea1413
thundering1543
viperous1605
luscious1614
peppering1712
rough1750
unquotable1821
sulphurous1828
piercent1829
unrepeatable1831
bituminous1878
sultry1891
unprintable1898
four-letter1923
1891 Pall Mall Gaz. 9 Oct. 1/2 Certainly no bishop ever heard more sultry or variegated language in his time.
1909 Westm. Gaz. 1 Oct. 3/3 She makes the mission ladies' flesh creep, she's that sultry with 'er tongue.
(c) ‘Hot’, ‘warm’, lively.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [adjective] > of action: involving or requiring vigour > carried out or proceeding with vigour > in which intense action goes on
warm1726
hot1845
sultry1880
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > vigour or force > [adjective] > piquant
piquant1645
racyc1817
spicy1844
salty1866
sultry1880
tangy1948
1880 ‘M. Twain’ Tramp Abroad xxv. 250 It was getting pretty sultry for me. I said to myself, ‘Is it possible she is going to stop there, and wait for me to speak? If she does, the conversation is blocked.’
1899 A. Conan Doyle Duet xviii I shall make it pretty sultry for you down at Woking.
1905 H. A. Vachell Hill iv. 76 The Caterpillar would have made things very sultry for him.
(d) Of a woman: lascivious or sensual, arousing sexual desire; also transferred and in combinations. Originally U.S.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual desire > [adjective] > causing sexual excitement or desire > specifically of a woman
lush1891
sexy1912
slutty1912
foxy1913
leggy1927
floozy?1930
sultry1940
nubile1944
1940 Time 7 Oct. 63/2 He watches..another become a sultry, sirenic dancer.
1946 Sun (Baltimore) 25 Apr. 12/1 There is also a ballet touch to Miss Horne's sultry song number, ‘Love’.
1949 R. Harvey Curtain Time xvi. 160 Miss Nethersole specialized in sultry rôles and her performance in Daudet's Sapho was considered scandalous.
1956 People 13 May 4/4 Certainly none of the sultry Continental sirens stood a chance when Diana strolled on to the beach.
1977 C. Storr Tales from Psychiatrist's Couch i. 6 She exuded an air of unsatisfied sexuality... She was what I'd call sultry.
1978 Times 30 Nov. 16/8 A trip to Rio to see the real thing—real sultry-eyed temptresses.
c. In book-names of some birds, indicating a reddish tinge.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > feather > [adjective] > having particular or same colour feathers
white-feathered1583
whole-feathered1683
sultry1783
1783 J. Latham Gen. Synopsis Birds II. ii. 455 Sultry W[arbler]... The edges of the feathers rufous.
1815 J. F. Stephens Shaw's Gen. Zool. IX. ii. 544 Sultry Finch, Fringilla calida..upper parts of the body pale rufous brown.
Derivatives
ˈsultry v. (transitive) to make hot.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > heat or make hot [verb (transitive)]
lew971
anheatOE
heatc1000
warmOE
hota1200
enchafec1374
eschaufec1374
chafea1382
achafea1400
calefy1526
heaten1559
glow1599
foment1658
to hot up1846
sultry1897
1897 F. Thompson New Poems x Cold as the new-sprung girlhood of the moon Ere Autumn's kiss sultry her cheek with flame.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1917; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1594