seethe

Meaning

Verb

• To boil.
• To boil vigorously.
• To foam in an agitated manner, as if boiling.
• To be in an agitated or angry mental state, as if boiling.
• To buzz with activity.

Origin

• From Middle English sethen, from Old English sēoþan ("to seethe, boil, cook in a liquid; subject to a fiery ordeal, try as with fire; subject to great pain, afflict, afflict grievously, disturb; prepare food for the mind; subject the mind with occupations; be troubled in mind, brood"), from Proto-Germanic *seuþaną ("to seethe, boil"), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂sewt-, *h₂sut-, *h₂sew-.
• Akin to Scots seth, seith, Dutch zieden ("to seethe, boil"), Low German seden ("to seethe"), German sieden ("to seethe, boil"), Danish syde ("to seethe, boil"), Swedish sjuda ("to seethe, boil"), Norwegian Bokmål syde ("to seethe, boil"), Icelandic sjóða ("to seethe, boil"), West Frisian siede ("to boil"). Related also to Gothic 𐍃𐌰𐌿𐌸𐍃 ("burnt offering, sacrifice"). Other cognates include Albanian zjej ("boil, seethe").