Rising or swelling suddenly and dramatically, like a wave or a sudden increase in power, emotion, or activity.
From Old French 'surgir' (to rise up) from Latin 'surgere' (to rise). The word entered Middle English in the 14th century and has always conveyed the image of something powerfully rising up or swelling.
The word 'surge' is perfect for describing waves because it literally comes from the motion of waves rising up, and now we use it for anything that suddenly swells—electricity surges, crowds surge, emotions surge—all borrowing that powerful image of water rising.
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