%tumesce%

n. [ L. ex. + tumescens, p. pr. of tumescere, incho. fr. tumere to swell: cf. F. extumescence. ] A swelling or rising. [ R. ] Cotgrave. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Intumesced p. pr. & vb. n. Intumescing ] [ L. intumescere; pref. in- in + tumescere to swell up, incho. fr. tumere to swell. See Tumid. ] To enlarge or expand with heat; to swell; specifically, to swell up or bubble up under the action of heat, as before the blowpipe. [ 1913 Webster ]

In a higher heat, it intumesces, and melts into a yellowish black mass. Kirwan. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. intumescence. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The act or process of swelling or enlarging; also, the state of being swollen; expansion; tumidity; especially, the swelling up of bodies under the action of heat. [ 1913 Webster ]

The intumescence of nations. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Anything swollen or enlarged, as a tumor. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. intumescens, p. pr. ] Swelling up; expanding. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. tumescens, -entis, p.pr. of tumescere to swell up, v. incho. fr. tumere to swell. ] The act of becoming tumid; the state of being swollen; intumescence; -- applied especially to the state of swelling of the vascular tissue in the male and female sex organs when they have been stimulated to readiness for sexual intercourse. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]