turgescence

English

Alternative forms

• turgescency

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tɜː(ɹ)ˈd͡ʒɛsəns/

• Audio (Southern England)

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Noun

turgescence (countable and uncountable, plural turgescences)

1. The act of swelling, or state of being swollen or turgescent.
   • 1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC:

     the instant turgescence is not to be taken off

   • 1842, Gibbons Merle, John Reitch, The Domestic Dictionary and Housekeeper’s Manual: Comprising Everything Related to Cookery, Diet, Economy and Medicine. By Gibbons Merle. The Medical Portion of the Work by John Reitch, M.D., London: William Strange, 21, Paternoster Row, →OCLC, page 360, column 2:

     If the predisposition to the disease has arisen from a plethoric state of the system, or from a turgescence in the vessels of the head, this is to be obviated by bleeding, both generally and topically, but more particularly the latter; an abstemious diet and proper exercise; and by a seton in the neck.

2. Empty magnificence or pompousness; inflation; bombast; turgidity.
   • 1813, Monthly Review:

     A marked tendency to affectation, to turgescence.

Synonyms

• tumescence
• tumidity
• turgidity
• turgor

French

Noun

turgescence f (plural turgescences)

1. swelling
2. turgor

Further reading

• “turgescence”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.