1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:

Dwell \Dwell\, verb (used without an object) [imp. & p. p. {Dwelled}, usually contracted into {Dwelt} (?); p. pr. & vb. n. {Dwelling}.] [OE. dwellen, dwelien, to err, linger, AS. dwellan to deceive, hinder, delay, dwelian to err; akin to Icel. dvelja to delay, tarry, Sw. dv["a]ljas to dwell, Dan. dv[ae]le to linger, and to E. dull. See {Dull}, and cf. {Dwale}.]

1. To delay; to linger. [Obs.]

2. To abide; to remain; to continue.

I 'll rather dwell in my necessity. --Shak.

Thy soul was like a star and dwelt apart. --Wordsworth.

3. To abide as a permanent resident, or for a time; to live in a place; to reside.

The parish in which I was born, dwell, and have possessions. --Peacham.

The poor man dwells in a humble cottage near the hall where the lord of the domain resides. --C. J. Smith.

{To dwell in}, to abide in (a place); hence, to depend on. ''My hopes in heaven to dwell.'' --Shak.

{To dwell on} or {To dwell upon}, to continue long on or in; to remain absorbed with; to stick to; to make much of; as, to dwell upon a subject; a singer dwells on a note.

They stand at a distance, dwelling on his looks and language, fixed in amazement. --Buckminster.

Syn: To inhabit; live; abide; sojourn; reside; continue; stay; rest.
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