a. Now arch. and dial. Also 6–7 sweltrie, 7–8 swealtry, sweltery. [f. SWELTER v. + -Y. Cf. SULTRY.]
1. Of heat, weather, etc.: Oppressively hot, sweltering, sultry.
1576. Turberv., Venerie, 118. The vehement sweltrie heate thereof [sc. the sun].
1661. Evelyn, Fumifugium, Misc. Writ. (1805), I. 216. The drier aer is generally the more salutary and healthy, so it be not too sweltery.
1775. Adair, Amer. Ind., 7. When they are waddling, whooping, and prancing it away, in their sweltery town-houses,… around the reputed holy fire.
1843. S. Phillips, in Blackw. Mag., LIII. April, 499/1. The fierce fire of the sun had rendered the atmosphere sweltry and oppressive.
b. transf. of feeling or action.
1748. Thomson, Cast. Indol., I. xi. The wretched thrall Of bitter dropping sweat, of swealtry pain.
1819. [H. Busk], Vestriad, IV. 801. Labouring thro’ the sweltry dance.
2. Oppressed or languishing with heat.
1635. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Banish’d Virg., 121. Phebus now hastened to bathe his swealtry Steeds in the foaming Ocean.
1796. Coleridge, Destiny of Nations, 150. Along the rough-hewn bench The sweltry man had stretched him.
