v. (erron. tumi-). [= F. tuméfi-er, ad. L. type *tumeficāre (cf. L. tumefacĕre), f. L. tumā-re to swell: see -FY, and cf. stupefy, rubefy.]
1. trans. To cause to swell; to swell, make tumid.
1597. [see prec. a].
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Tumefie..., to make to swell, or puff up.
1686. [see tumefying below].
1718. J. Chamberlayne, Relig. Philos. (1730), I. xi. § 15. The Sucker, tumified with Water, is thrust into the Tube.
1822–7. Good, Study Med. (1829), III. 132. Like the Athenian plague … it commenced in the head, inflamed the eyes, and tumefied the face.
b. fig. To ‘swell’; to make too bulky; to ‘puff up,’ as with pride; to make turgid or bombastic.
1674. Jeake, Arith. (1696), 89. Being not willing to spare so much time, or tumefie these Papers.
1677. [see prec. c].
1837. J. Morier, A. Allnutt, iv. 21. Having tumefied himself and his possessions by all the pomp and circumstance of two shields, and … a variety of heraldic insignia.
1840. De Quincey, Theory Grk. Trag. To swell, tumefy, stiffen, not the diction only, but the tenor of the thought.
2. intr. To swell, swell up, become tumid.
1615. [see tumefying below].
1689. Moyle, Sea Chyrurg., II. vii. 51. The wound … will be apt to Tumifie.
1811. Pinkerton, Petralogy, II. 286. Where the air … has most liberty to escape, it will tumify, burst through the liquid mass, and form cellular lava.
1822–7. Good, Study Med. (1829), I. 102. The tongue tumefies; the throat becomes sore.
1883. R. Haldane, Workshop Receipts, Ser. II. 304/2. The solid sheet glue, while drying…, tumefied and became very porous.
Hence Tumefying vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 79. Although there be no outward tumifying … to be seene.
1686. Goad, Celest. Bodies, II. vii. 249. Its tumefying influence.
