Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To feel or express pride about something or someone.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb intransitive To feel delighted and proud to the point of tears.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Yiddish kveln, to be delighted with, beam with pride, from Middle High German quellen, to gush, from Old High German quellan; akin to Old English cwylla, spring, water well.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Yiddish קװעלן (kveln), from an old Germanic word akin to German quellen, "well up".

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Examples

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  • Yiddish: to beam with pride; to gloat; to exult. From German quellen, "to gush." In a sentence: "My son is a doctor AND a lawyer! I'm kvelling!"

    June 3, 2009