swollen
UK: ˈswəʊlən | US: ˈswoʊlən
adj. enlarged or puffed up, typically due to injury, infection, or fluid retention
v. past participle of swell (to increase in size or volume)
swollen = swell<to expand> + en<past participle suffix>
- swell: From Old English swellan ("to grow or make larger"), derived from Proto-Germanic swellaną, related to the concept of expansion or inflation.
- en: A suffix used in Old English to form past participles of strong verbs (e.g., broken, spoken).
Etymology Origin:
The word swollen traces back to the Old English verb swellan, which described physical expansion or rising (e.g., waves, body parts). Over time, swell retained its core meaning of growth in size, while swollen specialized as the adjective/past participle form, often implying abnormal or excessive enlargement (e.g., swollen ankles). The -en suffix marks its historical role as a strong verb participle, akin to written or driven.
Her ankle remained swollen after the sprain.
The river swollen by heavy rain flooded nearby fields.
His face was swollen from an allergic reaction.
The dough had swollen to twice its original size.
A swollen battery can be a sign of malfunction.