- A compliment used by fashionistas, sveltering means more than simply 'skinny'. It has widened the definition to include a figure that has curves, yet is sleek and tight. Because the fashion realm tends to have a more sickly representation of skinny, sveltering represents a more healthier image. The blend makes the word similar to the word sweltering, making a hint at 'hot'--a slang term for sexy. The term is also seen in variant, svelty.
sveltering
adjective; blending svelte + sweltering
used to describe a healthy, womanly figure
Etymology : Blend of:
1. svelte: originally from L. exvellere: ex- 'out' + vellere 'to pluck, stretch' > 'pulled out and lengthened' > 'slim, slender'
2. sweltering: Adj form of swelter from O.E. sveltan 'to put to death, starve' > 'to be faint (esp. with heat)'
1. svelte: originally from L. exvellere: ex- 'out' + vellere 'to pluck, stretch' > 'pulled out and lengthened' > 'slim, slender'
2. sweltering: Adj form of swelter from O.E. sveltan 'to put to death, starve' > 'to be faint (esp. with heat)'
Source : "Photo caption: America Ferrera, looking super svelty in a scoop-neck LBD." (Glamour.com: November 17, 2008)
Last modified: 2 December 2008