v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Tumefied p. pr. & vb. n. Tumefying. ] [ F. tuméfier, 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. [ 1913 Webster ]
To swell, tumefy, stiffen, not the diction only, but the tenor of the thought. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]