What is "tumefy"

Tumefy \Tu"me*fy\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tumefied; p. pr. & vb. n. Tumefying.] [F. tum['e]fier, fr. L. tumere to swell + -ficare (in comp.) to make; cf. L. tumefacere to tumefy. See Tumid, and -fy.] To swell; to cause to swell, or puff up.

To swell, tumefy, stiffen, not the diction only, but the tenor of the thought.
--De Quincey.

Tumefy \Tu"me*fy\, v. i. To rise in a tumor; to swell.

vb. to cause to swell

1. v. cause to become very swollen

2. expand abnormally; "The bellies of the starving children are swelling" [syn: swell, swell up, intumesce, tumesce]

3. [also: tumefied]