Forms: 5–7, 9 (now U.S.) smolder (7 -ther), 6 smoolder, smow(l)der, smoulther, 6– smoulder. [f. prec.]
During the 17th and 18th cents. both sb. and vb. fell into disuse, although poets continued to employ the ppl. adj. smouldering, of which Johnson (1755), says ‘This word seems a participle; but I know not whether the verb smoulder be in use.’ The revival of the verb in the 19th cent. was evidently due to Scott.
† 1. trans. To smother, suffocate. Obs.
1481. Caxton, Reynard, xxxiv. (Arb.), 98. Hit stanke that I was almost smoldred therof. Ibid. (1489), Faytes of A., I. xxiv. 77. The hete of the sonne was so brennynge hoot that almost hyt smoldred the rommayns.
1529. Rastell, Pastyme (1811), 292. The most commyn opinyon was, that they were smolderyd betwene two fetherbeddes.
1563. Golding, Cæsar (1565), 157 b. Other some … doe smoolder the men wythin them wyth the flame.
1586. Warner, Alb. Eng., II. vii. (1589), 24. Some stumbling on the bodies dead are smoldred so and die.
† b. To smother, in various fig. uses. Obs.
1571. Golding, Calvin on Ps. li. 12. Although the giftes of the Holy Ghoste were smoldered in him.
1575. Gammer Gurton, V. ii. How-euer the thing he clockes or smolders.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 68. Which indignitie … as then … smouldered up in respect of the common cause,… afterwards brake out againe.
2. intr. To burn and smoke without flame. Also transf. (quot. 1851).
1529. More, Suppl. Souls, II. Wks. 321/2. The tone is a light flame sone ended, the tother smowdreth much lenger.
1530. Palsgr., 723/1. I smolder, as wete wood doth. Ibid. This woode burneth nat clere, it dothe but smolder.
1851. Tennyson, E. Morris, 147. The light cloud smoulders on the summer crag.
1857. Miller, Elem. Chem., Org., ix. 574. Baryta salt … when burned in open air smoulders like tinder till the naphthalin is consumed.
1859. W. Collins, Q. of Hearts (1875), 55. The floor was smouldering in several places.
b. In fig. contexts.
1575. Gascoigne, Flowers, Wks. 88. Nor yet [can] my fancie make such flame, that I may smoulder in the same.
1814. Scott, Lord of Isles, II. xxvi. He waked a spark, that, long suppress’d, Had smoulder’d in Lord Ronald’s breast.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xviii. IV. 188. The civil war…, after it had ceased to flame, had continued during some time to smoulder.
c. fig. To exist or continue in a suppressed state.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., II. xv. Still … Smoulders in Roderick’s breast the feud.
1842. Manning, Serm. (1848), I. 3. For wise ends, God suffers this rebellion to smoulder in His Kingdom.
1888. Fagge, Princ. Med., I. 185. Intestinal lesions may smoulder on without giving rise to any symptoms.
† 3. To be feeble or languid. Obs.–1
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, IV. 55. It [the midriff] beyng wounded the hart smoldreth, like the lampe that dyeth for lacke of oyle.
Hence Smouldered ppl. a.
1796. Coleridge, Destiny of Nations, 258. Aside the beacon, up whose smouldered stones The … ivy-trails crept thinly.
