 |
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Sway \Sway\ (sw[=a]), verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Swayed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Swaying}.] [OE. sweyen, Icel. sveigja, akin to E. swing; cf. D. zwaaijen to wield, swing. See {Swing}, and cf. {Swag}, verb (used without an object)]
1. To move or wield with the hand; to swing; to wield; as, to sway the scepter.
As sparkles from the anvil rise, When heavy hammers on the wedge are swayed. --Spenser.
2. To influence or direct by power and authority; by persuasion, or by moral force; to rule; to govern; to guide.
The will of man is by his reason swayed. --Shak.
She could not sway her house. --Shak.
This was the race To sway the world, and land and sea subdue. --Dryden.
3. To cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward; to bias; to turn; to bend; warp; as, reeds swayed by wind; judgment swayed by passion.
As bowls run true by being made On purpose false, and to be swayed. --Hudibras.
Let not temporal and little advantages sway you against a more durable interest. --Tillotson.
4. (Naut.) To hoist; as, to sway up the yards.
Syn: To bias; rule; govern; direct; influence; swing; move; wave; wield.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Swaying \Sway"ing\, noun An injury caused by violent strains or by overloading; -- said of the backs of horses. --Crabb.
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
21 Moby Thesaurus words for "swaying": ascendant, careening, dangling, dominant, in ascendancy, in the ascendant, lurching, on the throne, pitching, predominant, prepollent, preponderant, prepotent, prevailing, reeling, regnant, rocking, rolling, ruling, swinging, tossing
 |
Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |