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.
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.Swarth'ness, n. p. 1336Swarthiness. [Rare.]Swarth'y, a. p. 1336Being of a dark hue or dusky complexion; black or tawny. Their swarthy hosts would darken all our plains. Addison.Swarth'y, v. t. p. 1336To make swarthy; to darken. [Obs.] Cowley.Swart'i-ness, n. p. 1336The state of being swart or swarthy; a tawny color.Swart'ish, a. p. 1336Somewhat swart, dark, or tawny.Swart'ness, n. p. 1336The quality of being swart; darkness; swarthiness. She denounced the plague of swartness to the linen. W. Scott.Swart'-stär, n. p. 1336The dog-star; — so called from its appearance during the hot weather of summer, which darkens, or makes swart, the countenance. [Rare.] Milton.Swart'y, a. p. 1337Swarthy; tawny. [Obs.] Burton.Swärve, v. i. p. 1337To swerve. [Obs.] Spenser. 2. To climb. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Swash, n. p. 1337(Arch.) An oval figure, whose moldings are oblique to the axis of the work. Moxon.Swash, n. p. 1337A blustering noise; a vaporing; swaggering behavior; a swagger. [Obs. or vulgar.] 2. One who swaggers; a swaggering fellow; a swasher. 3. [From wash, with s prefixed.] Impulse of water flowing with…Swash, v. i. p. 1337To bluster; to make a great noise; to vapor or brag. 2. [See supra.] To dash or flow noisily, as water; to splash; as, water swashing on a shallow place. 3. To fall violently or noisily. [Obs.] They…Swash, a. p. 1337Soft, like fruit too ripe; swashy. [Prov. Eng.] Pegge.Swash'-bŭck'ler, n. p. 1337A bully or braggadocio; a swaggering, boastful fellow; a swaggerer. Milton.Swash'er, n. p. 1337One who makes a blustering show of valor of arms. [Rare.] Shak.Swash'-wāy, n. p. 1337A narrow channel of water among sands, and the like; a swash.Swash'y, a. p. 1337Soft, like fruit that is too ripe; quashy; swash. [Prov. Eng.]Swāt, imp. p. 1337of sweat. [Obs.] See SWEAT. Chaucer.Swatch, n. p. 1337A swath. [Obs.] Tusser.Swāte, imp. p. 1337of sweat. [Obs.] See SWEAT. Thomson.Swath, n. p. 1337A band or fillet. “They wrapped me in a hundred yards of swath.” Addison. 2. A line of grass or grain cut and thrown together by the scythe in mowing or cradling. 3. The whole sweep of a scythe, or…Swath'-bănk, n. p. 1337A strip of grass left standing between the strokes of a scythe. [Prov. Eng.]Swāthe, v. t. p. 1337To bind with a swath, band, bandage, or rollers; as, to swathe a child. Their children are never swathed or bound about with any thing when first born. Abbot.Swāthe, n. p. 1337A bandage. Milk and a swathe, at first, his whole demand. Young.Swāy, v. t. p. 1337To move or wield with the hand; as, to sway the scepter. 2. To influence or direct by power and authority, or by moral force; to rule; to govern. She could not sway her house. Shak. Take heed lest…Swāy, v. i. p. 1337To bear rule; to govern. “Hadst thou swayed as kings should do.” Shak. 2. To have weight or influence. The example of sundry churches . . . doth sway much. Hooker. 3. To be drawn to one side by…Swāy, n. p. 1337Power exerted in governing; rule; dominion; control. When vice prevails, and impious men bear sway, The post of honor is a private station. Addison. 2. Influence, weight, or authority that inclines…Swāy'-băcked, a. p. 1337Having the back hollow or fallen in, whether naturally or as the result of injury or weakness;—said of horses and other animals.Swāy'-brā'cing, n. p. 1337(Engin.) The horizontal bracing of a bridge, which prevents its swaying.Swāyed, a. p. 1337Bent down, and hollow in the back; — said of a horse. “Swayed in the back.” Shak.Swāy'ful, a. p. 1337Full of power; able to sway; swaying. [Rare.] “The swayful concrete of intonation in the violoncello.” Rush.Swāy'ing, n. p. 1337A kind of lumbago, caused by a fall, or by being overloaded;—applied to beasts.Sweal, v. i. p. 1337To melt and run down, as the tallow of a candle; to waste away without feeding the flame. 2. To blaze away. See SWALE.