1. To rise and to fall, to toss around, or to move along on the waves: "The boat was seen surging at anchor."
2. To rise, to roll, to move, or to swell forward in or like waves: "The ocean surged against the beach area as the crowd surged back and forth."
3. To rise as if by a heaving or swelling force: "It was obvious that blood surged to his face when he heard the bad news."
4. To increase or to vary suddenly, as an electric current.
5. A sudden fluctuation of voltage as a result of lightning, switching, etc.
6. Etymology: Latin surgere literally meant "to lead up from below"; hence "rise".

It originated as a compound verb formed from the prefix sub-, from below" and regere, "to lead".

The English language acquired it by way of Old Spanish surgir and Old French sourgir, at which time it included meanings associated with watery references of "waves heaving".

Surgere also produced such English words as, resource, resurrection, and source.