C19: from Latin tumescere to begin to swell, from tumēre
tumescent in American English
(tuːˈmesənt, tjuː-)
adjective
1.
swelling; slightly tumid
2.
exhibiting or affected with many ideas or emotions; teeming
3.
pompous and pretentious, esp. in the use of language; bombastic
Derived forms
tumescence
noun
Word origin
[1880–85; ‹ L tumēscent- (s. of tumēscēns, prp. of tumēscere to begin to swell), equiv. to tum(ēre) to swell + -ēscent--escent]This word is first recorded in the period 1880–85. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: automatism, barnstorm, impressionism, interface, jackpot
Examples of 'tumescent' in a sentence
tumescent
And no, some succulents are tree-sized and not pretty at all — bordering on the tumescent, in fact.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
I say excited not in the tumescent, opening-dark-closets way, but in the birthday-present,new-kit sense.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Even the more rowdy numbers managed to combine hip-thrusting, frilly-shirted swagger with no hint of tumescent, swollen subtext.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They started out as nature's hyperactive show-offs, but now they're levitating andvibrating with excitement, tumescent with joy and hormones.