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Sunday 2 October 2011

Sunday Rest: Word Not To Use Today: swelter.

Sweltering is what we're all doing in Southern England at the moment. The temperature reached a record-breaking 29.9 degrees centigrade yesterday, and looks set to be even higher today.

That's ridiculous, quite frankly, but we're not complaining. Well, not much. We can't, really, having moaned about the cold all summer.

Anyway, swelter: the sound of sweat slowly forming and then dropping onto the baking ground.

As if that's not bad enough, swelter also means to exude venom.

Lovely.

I'll leave you with the pleasing fact that until yesterday the English record for the hottest October day was set in March.

Oh yes it was - the town of March, in Cambridgeshire.


I can't help feeling rather sorry March's record has been broken, quite honestly.

Word Not To Use Today: swelter. This word is from the Old English sweltan to die. It's related to the Old Norse svelta to starve, and the Old High German swelzan to burn with passion.

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