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surge (n.)

late 15c. (Caxton), "fountain, spring of water" (a sense now obsolete), a word of uncertain origin, probably from French sourge-, stem of sourdre "to rise, swell," from Latin surgere "to rise, arise, get up, mount up, ascend; attack," contraction of surrigere, from assimilated form of sub "up from below" (see sub-) + regere "to keep straight, guide" (from PIE root *reg- "move in a straight line," with derivatives meaning "to direct in a straight line," thus "to lead, rule").

The meaning "high, rolling swell of water, large wave or billow" is from 1520s; figurative sense of "an excited rising up" (as of feelings) is from 1510s. As "act of surging," by 1660s.

also from late 15c.

surge (v.)

1510s, "to rise and fall" on or as on the waves, a sense now obsolete, from surge (n.), or from French surgir "rise, ride (as a ship does a wave), spring up, arrive." The meaning "rise in waves, rise high and roll forcefully" is from 1560s, literal and figurative. Related: Surged; surging.

also from 1510s
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Trends of surge

updated on October 25, 2023

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