smouldering

See also: smoldering

English

Alternative forms

• smoldering (US)

Etymology

From smoulder +‎ -ing.

Adjective

smouldering

1. (British spelling) Burning slowly, producing smoke but no flame.
   • 1859, Alfred Tennyson, “Guinevere”, in Idylls of the King, London: Edward Moxon & Co., […], →OCLC, pages 229–230:

     And if we meet again, some evil chance / Will make the smouldering scandal break and blaze / Before the people, and our lord the King.

   • 2022 January 12, Benedict le Vay, “The heroes of Soham...”, in Rail, number 948, page 43:

     The burnt and bleeding man staggered to his feet, dazed and unbelieving, and asked the startled townspeople who came running whether his fireman and guard were safe. He was kept away from the smouldering crater where his engine had been, and taken to hospital.

Noun

smouldering (plural smoulderings)

1. (sometimes figuratively) The act by which something smoulders; residual heat.

   the smoulderings of the Thirty Years War

Verb

smouldering

1. present participle and gerund of smoulder

Further reading

• “smouldering”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.

Anagrams

• remouldings