— suffocatingly , adv. — suffocation , n. — suffocative , adj.
/suf"euh kayt'/ , v. , suffocated, suffocating .
v.t.
1. to kill by preventing the access of air to the blood through the lungs or analogous organs, as gills; strangle.
2. to impede the respiration of.
3. to discomfort by a lack of fresh or cool air.
4. to overcome or extinguish; suppress.
v.i.
5. to become suffocated; stifle; smother.
6. to be uncomfortable due to a lack of fresh or cool air.
[ 1520-30; suffocatus (ptp. of suffocare to choke, stifle), equiv. to suf- SUF- + -foc- (comb. form of fauc-, s. of fauces throat) + -atus -ATE 1 ]