tu·mes·cent \-sənt\adjective Etymology: Latin tumescent-, tumescens, present participle of tumescere to swell up, incho, of tumēre to swell 1.: somewhat tumid, swollen, or inflated < tumescent tissue > 2.: bombastic, tumid 3 3.: swelling with fullness of thought or emotion : teeming, pregnant < a tumescent flow of thought — H.G.Wells >