Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Swāg'gy, a. p. 1335Inclined to swag; sinking, hanging, or leaning by its weight. Browne.Swāin, n. p. 1335A young man dwelling in the country; a rustic; especially, a country gallant or lover;—used chiefly in poetry. It were a happy life To be no better than a homely swain. Shak. Blest swains! whose…Swāin'ish, a. p. 1335Pertaining to, or resembling, a swain; rustic. Milton.Swāin'ling, n. p. 1335A little swain. [Rare.]Swāin'mōte, n. p. 1335(Eng. Forest Law.) A court held before the verderors of the forest as judges, by the steward of the court, thrice every year, the swains or freeholders within the forest composing the jury.…Swāin'ship, n. p. 1336The condition of a swain.Swāip, v. i. p. 1336To walk proudly; to sweep. [Prov. Eng.] Todd.Swāle, n. p. 1336A valley or low place; also, shade, in opposition to sunshine. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell. Forby. 2. [Gael. & Ir. sgail, a shade, a shadow.] An interval or vale; a tract of low, and usually wet, land.…Swāle, v. t. & i. p. 1336To consume; to waste; to sweal. See SWEAL.Swāle, v. t. p. 1336To dress, as a hog for bacon, by singeing or burning off the hair. [Prov. Eng.]Swal'let, n. p. 1336Water breaking in upon the miners at their work;—so called among tin-miners. [Obs.] Bailey.Swăl'low, n. p. 1336(Ornith.) A small bird with long wings, a forked or pointed tail, and small hooked feet. The gape of the mouth is very wide, though the beak is short. They feed on insects, which they seize while on…Swal'lōw, v. t. p. 1336To take into the stomach; to receive through the gullet or esophagus into the stomach; as, to swallow food or drink. 2. To draw into an abyss or gulf; to ingulf; to absorb;—usually followed by up.…Swal'low, n. p. 1336The gullet or esophagus; the throat. 2. Taste; relish; inclination; liking. I have no swallow for it. Massinger. 3. Capacity for swallowing; voracity. “There being nothing too gross for the swallow…Swăl'lōw-er, n. p. 1336One who swallows; specifically, a glutton. Tatler.Swal'low-fish, n. p. 1336(Ichth.) A sea-fish of the genus Trigla (T. hirundo), remarkable for the size of its gill-fins;—called also sapphirine gurnard.Swal'low-tāil, n. p. 1336(Mech.) The same as Dove-TAIL, q. v. 2. (Bot.) A species of willow. Bacon. 3. (Fort.) A work so called from its form;—called also priest-cap. [See Illust. of Redan.]Swal'low-tāiled, a. p. 1336Like a swallow's tail in form; having narrow and tapering or pointed skirts; as, a swallow-tailed coat. 2. (Mach.) Dove-tailed.Swallow-tailed hawk p. 1336a species of hawk having a long, forked tail, found in the southern parts of the United States; Nauclerus (Milvus) furcatus. Baird.Swal'low-wort, n. p. 1336(Bot.) A plant of the genus Asclepias or Cynanchum, growing in the southern part of Europe, and said to have been successfully used as a medicine, chiefly in dropsical cases. African swallow-wort, a…Swamp, n. p. 1336Spongy land; low ground filled with water; soft, wet ground; marshy ground away from the sea-shore; land wet and spongy, but not usually covered with water.Swamp, v. t. p. 1336To plunge, whelm, or sink in a swamp, or as in a swamp. 2. (Naut.) To overset, sink, or cause to become filled, as a boat, in water; to whelm. 3. To plunge into inextricable difficulties. “Having…Swamp'-câb'bage, n. p. 1336(Bot.) Skunk-cabbage.Swamp'-hŏn'ey-sŭck'le, n. p. 1336(Bot.) A shrub of the genus Azalea (A. viscosa), growing in swampy places, and having clammy, fragrant flowers, of a white color, or white tinged with rose-color;—called also swamp-pink. Gray.Swamp'-ōāk, n. p. 1336(Bot.) A variety of the Quercus prunus, found in Canada.Swamp'-ōre, n. p. 1336(Min.) An ore of iron found in swamps and morasses; bog-ore, or bog iron ore.Swamp'-săs'/sa-frăs, n. p. 1336(Bot.) A small North American tree of the genus Magnolia (M. glauca);—called also sweet bay.Swamp'y, a. p. 1336Consisting of swamp; like a swamp; low, wet, and spongy; as, swampy land.Swan, n. p. 1336(Or-nith.) A large web-footed bird, like the goose, but handsomer, and more graceful, having also a longer neck and beak, and being generally larger and stronger. It is usually of a white color when…Swāng, n. p. 1336A piece of low land or greensward, liable to be covered with water. [Prov. Eng.] 2. A swamp; a bog. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Swān'i-mōte, n. p. 1336See SWAINMOTE.Swan'kie, n. p. 1336An active and clever young fellow.Swan'ky p. 1336W. Scott.Swăn'pan, n. p. 1336The Chinese abacus, or calculating instrument. S. W. Williams.Swan's'-down, n. p. 1336The fine, soft feathers of the swan, used for various articles of dress. 2. A fine, soft, thick cloth of wool mixed with silk or cotton; a sort of twilled fustian, like moleskin.Swan'-skin, n. p. 1336The skin of a swan. 2. A species of flannel of a soft texture, thick and warm.Swap, adv. p. 1336Hastily; at a snatch. [Prov. Eng.] [Low.]Swap, v. t. p. 1336To strike;—with off. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] 2. To exchange; to barter; to swop. [Colloq.]Swap, n. p. 1336A blow; a stroke. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] 2. An exchange. [Colloq.]Swap, v. i. p. 1336To fall or descend; to rush hastily or violently. C. Richardson. 2. To beat the air with a sweeping motion or noise; to flap. More.Swāpe, n. p. 1336A pole supported by a fulcrum, on which it turns, used for raising water from a well, for churning, and the like; a sweep.Sward, n. p. 1336The grassy surface of land; that part of the soil which is filled with the roots of grass, forming a kind of mat; turf. 2. Skin; covering. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell. Sward-pork, bacon cured in large…Sward, v. t. p. 1336To produce sward upon; to cover with sward. Mortimer.Sward'-cút/ter, n. p. 1336An instrument for cutting sward; a machine for bringing old grass lands into tillage.Sward'ed, a. p. 1336Covered with sward.Sward'y, a. p. 1336Covered with sward or grass; as, swardy land.Swâre, imp. p. 1336of swear. [Obs.] See SWEAR.Swāre, n. p. 1336A copper coin and money of account in Bremen, of the value of one fifth of a groat, that is, nearly a half farthing sterling, or one quarter of a cent. McCulloch.Swärf, v. i. p. 1336To grow languid; to faint. [Scot.] “To swarf for very hunger.” W. Scott.Swärf, n. p. 1336The grit worn away from grindstones used in grinding cutlery wet. [Prov. Eng.]Swarm, n. p. 1336A large number of small animals or insects, especially when in motion. “A deadly swarm of hornets.” Milton. 2. Especially, a great number of honey bees which emigrate from a hive at once, and seek…Swarm, v. i. p. 1336To collect and depart from a hive by flight in a body, as bees; as, bees swarm in warm, clear days in summer. 2. To appear or collect in a crowd; to throng together; to congregate in a multitude; to…Swarm, v. t. p. 1336To crowd or throng. [Obs.]Swart, n. p. 1336Sward. [Obs.] Holinshed.Swart, v. t. p. 1336To make tawny. [Obs.]Swart or Swarth, a. p. 1336Being of a dark hue; moderately black; tawny. “A nation strange, with visage swart.” Spenser. “While your swart attendants wait.” Trench. 2. Gloomy; malignant. [Obs.] Milton.Swarth, n. p. 1336The same as SWATH. See SWATH.Swarth, n. p. 1336An apparition of a person about to die. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.Swarth'i-ly, adv. p. 1336In a swarthy manner; with a tawny hue; duskily.Swarth'i-ness, n. p. 1336The state of being swarthy; a dusky or dark complexion; tawniness.