sway 
HITI-, HuTr, :in<l rvrr) v* ll> ] r ahi'llt her tlcayd 
Her wrathful! sti'Hc, Unit Mom- mote it ahyde. 
.-V.VIXr'C, K. ((., III. I. i. 
Anil your iin]i:irtj:il mult -rrivi.il {{ami 
&MV itaonn SO-plll-. 
./. /leaitmont, 1'sychf, v. 154. 
Anil tin- \vfml of niuht it) xii-ii'tiii'i 
Tin 1 trt-rs with a heavy sign. 
Bryant, A I.ifrtiiin-. 
2. To c;m-,i to bend or move aside; bias, liter- 
ally or figuratively; cause to loan or incline to 
one side; pivjuilir... 
i Jul furtive tin-in that so much have sway'd 
Your majesty's good thoughts away from me ! 
Shak., 1 Hen. IV., III. 2. 130. 
Take heed let passion tu-a\i 
Thy judgment to do aught which else frve will 
u ..Hi. i not admit. Milton, P. I... vlll. 035. 
As bowls run true by being made 
On purpoHc false, and to lie tway'd. 
S. Butler, Uudlbraa, III. IL 1368. 
The colonies were swayed by no local interest, no par- 
tial Interest, no selllsh Interest. 
I>. Wtbtter, Speech, Hunker 11 111 Monument, June 17, 
(1826. 
3. To rule; govern; influence or direct by 
power and authority, or by moral force ; man- 
age. 
She could not stray her house. Shale., T. N., Iv. 3. 17. 
This was the race 
To iway the world, and land and sea subdue. 
Dryden. 
Swayiny the long-hair'd goats with silver'd rein. 
tt. Arnold, Balder Dead. 
4. Nuut., to hoist; raise: particularly said of 
yards and topmasts. To sway across, to sway (a 
yard)tu a horizontal position. = 8yn. L To brandish. 3. 
ilniile, Direct (see yuidt), control. 
sway (swa), H. [< away, .] 1. Inclination; 
preponderance ; movement toward one side or 
the other, or toward both alternately; swing. 
Whan that the sturdy ok, 
On which men hakketh ofte for the nones, 
Keceyved hath the happy fallyng strok, 
The grete ewciyh [viir. swottgh] doth it to come al atones. 
Chaucer, Troilus, U. 1383. 
Expert 
When to advance, or stand, or turn the way 
Of battel. Milton, V. L., vl. 234. 
With huge two-handed sway 
Brandish'd aloft, the horrid edge came down 
Wide-wasting. Milton, F. L., vi. 251. 
2. Weight ; force, as of some heavy or power- 
ful agent. 
In gallant trim the gilded vessel goes, . . . 
Regardless of the sweeping whirlwind's siray, 
That, hush'd in grim repose, expects his evening prey. 
Gray, The Bard, ii. 
3. Rule; control; government: probably in 
allusion to the sway of the scepter, or of the 
sword, embodying and illustrating govern- 
ment. 
The whole sway Is in the people's hands, who volunta- 
rily appoint those magistrates by whose authority they 
may be governed. Hooker, Eccles. Polity, vil. 14. 
Five chosen leaders the fierce bands obey, 
Himself supreme in valour, as in sway. 
Pope, Iliad, xvi. 209. 
The stray 
Of habit fonn'd in early day. 
Scott, Marmion, Hi., Int. 
Horrible forms of worship, that, of old, 
Held o'er the shuddering realms unquestioned sipay. 
Bryant, The Ages, xxv. 
4. An instrument of rule or management. 
[Bare.] 
The Sword Is the surest Sieay over all People, who ought 
to be cudgeled rather than cajoled to Obedience. 
Uowell, Letters, IT. 47. 
5. A switch used by thatchers to bind their 
work. = Syn. 3. Influence, Ascendancy, etc. See author- 
ity. 
sway-backed (swa'bakt).rt. 1. Same as swayed. 
2. Having the back naturally sagged or hol- 
lowed to an unusual degree, as a horse. 
The Ts'aidam ponies are of a very poor breed, mostly 
stray-backed, and with such long hoofs that they are bad 
mountain animals. The Century, XI. I. 357. 
sway-bar (swa'biir), w. In a vehicle, a bar on 
the hinder end of the fore hounds, resting on 
the coupling-poles, and sliding on them when 
the wagon turns. Also called slider, sweeji-bar. 
E. II. K u iiilit. 
Sway-bracing (swa'bra'sing), ii. The horizon- 
tal bracing of a bridge, to prevent lateral sway- 
ing. Imp. Diet. 
swayed (swad), p. a. Strained and weakened 
in the back or loins : noting horses that have 
been injured by overwork. 
Smn/td In the hack and shoulder-shotten. 
Shak., T. of the 8., III. 2. 56. 
swayful (swa'ful), n. [< mcay + -fill.] Able 
to sway; swaying; powerful. [Rare.] 
6K>:t 
Where Oytherea's twayful power 
' 
Where Oytherea's twayful power 
Is worshi]ip'<! in tlir in .iy t,nw, r. 
Paukes, tr. of the Idylls i,f Theocrltiu, The Distaff. 
sweat 
I hate M.. vi ry UMO.I ..piniMn of Mrs. Charles's nursery- 
i.M't . . . Mi -. i !i;n I.-* unit.' .-" Kii-xbii ht-r, 1 know. 
June AvuAen, I'crsuuaion, vi. 
SWeak t>\vck), c. A ilhili-rt-i! I'oi-ni 
SWeal 1 (swcl). r. [Also dial, nirnli ; < MK. 
xiri-hii, < AS. sir: Inn (prt-t. "mreel, jip. *mcolen), 
burn, = MI), mn-li-n = Mi. sicclen, > ti. xi-lm-t / , 
luini --lowly; cf. deriv. A8./r-.vv<y<i//, burn up: 
Ollii. .virili;:ini, burn slowly; AS. .,,</, lirnt : 
M 1 ). 'swuel, xoel, D. zwoel, :oel = LG. *ir/, > 
G. srliu'iil, sultry; cf. also I.ith. sirHii, singe, 
scorch, etc. Cf. swfltfr, tnceltry, fiiltri/.] I. 
intruiia. 1. To burn slowly. 2. To melt and 
run down, as the tallow of a candle; waste 
away without feeding the flame. 
II. trini.i. To singe; scorch; dress, as a hog, 
by burning or singeing. 
sweal'^t (swel), r. t. An obsolete variant of 
M/'Y/1. 
And Ill-shap't Loon who his harsh notea doth meal. 
S. Clarke, Four limitations In America (1670), p. 85. 
SWeamt (swem), H. [Also dial, sicecin. xiciiim, 
mrame; \ ME. siceem, sweme, strem, a dizziness, 
< Icel. fveimr, a bustle, stir, = Norw. srrim, a 
hovering about, a sudden sickness, a slight in- 
toxication ; akin to Icel. mrinii = I >:m. grime = 
AS. siciiiiii, a fainting-fit, a swoon : see swim'*. 
Hence nit. xweiimiiii.i. ^imiiiiinli. xijueamoiis, 
Hqueamish."] I. A swimming of the head; a 
fainting-fit ; a swoon. J'rontjit. Pare., p. 482. 
2. A sudden qualm of sickness. 
By hllndnesse blunt, a sottUbe nceanu hee feeles: 
when death is hard at heeles. 
/or Magi. (ed. Haslewuud), I. 307. 
To swear off, to swear out*, i 
to ncear '^drinking. 
M-. >li>innly: as, 
With luyes bereapte, when death is hard at heeles. 
Mir. 
sweamish (swe'mish), a. An obsolete or dia- 
lectal form of squeamitili. 
sweamoust, [ME. sweymous, sueymowse, etc.: 
see xi/iifiiiin>n.-<.\ Same as squeamouy. 
swear 1 (swar), r. ; pret. swore, archaically strare, 
pp. sworn, ppr. swearing. [< ME. sweren, sweri- 
cn (pret. swor, swa re, pi. gweren), < AS. sicerian 
(pret. swor, pp. sworen) = OS. swerian = OFries. 
swera = MD. gweren, D. zweren = MLG. stceren, 
LG. stciiren = OHG. swiven, tswcrien, MHO. 
swern, sweren, G. schwiiren = Icel. fverja = 
Sw. svarja = Dan. scserge = Goth, swaran (pret. 
sicor), swear; cf. Icel. scar, pi. sviir, = Sw. Dan. 
svar, answer, Icel. Sw. srara, = Dan. svare, an- 
swer, AS. and&warit, answer, andswarian, and- 
meerian, answer, etc. (see answer); prob. orig. 
declare, affirm, assert, hence answer; cf. Skt. 
srara, sound, voice, \/srar, sound. To the same 
root is referred smarm. Hence, in comp., for- 
mcear.] I. intrans. 1. To affirm or utter a sol- 
emn declaration, with an appeal to God or to 
some superhuman being in confirmation of 
what is affirmed; declare or affirm something 
in a solemn manner by some sacred being or 
object, as the Bible or the Koran. 
Man, hytt waa the fulle ryve 
To sirere be my wowndys fyve. 
Hymiu to Virgin, etc. (E. E. T. S.), p. 124. 
By this pale queen of night I ncear. 
Shak., T. O. of V., Iv. 2. 100. 
2. To promise something upon oath; vow; 
make a promise in a solemn manner. 
Jacob said, Swear to me this day ; and he tvnre unto 
him. den. xxv. 33. 
3. To give evidence or make any statement on 
oath or with an oath ; also, to declare solemn- 
ly, without an oath, as to the truth of some- 
thing. 
At what eae 
Might corrupt minds procure knaves a* corrupt 
To mcear against you? Shak., Hen. VIII., v. 1. 1S8. 
4. To use profane language ; be profane ; prac- 
tise profaneness; use the name or names of 
God irreverently in common conversation ; ut- 
ter prof ane oaths ; curse. 
If I do not put on a sober habit, 
Talk with respect, and nttar but now and then, 
. . . never trust me more. Shalt.. M. of V., IL 2. 200. 
The swearer continues to twear; tell him of his wick- 
edness, he allows it is great, but he continues to tnctar on. 
If. Gilpin, Sermons, II. xivii. 
"But whom did he ffuvarat?" was the enquiry made of 
the narrator (a Scottish Highlander], who replied. "Oh, 
he didna fiMtr at ony thing particular, but julst stude In 
ta middle of ta road and eiroor at lairge." 
E. B. Jlammy, Scottish Life and Character, p. 10. 
5. To be incongruous or inharmonious (with): 
followed by at: often said of colors. [Colloq.] 
What Is new in it in the way of art, furniture, or bric- 
a-brac may not be in the best taste, and may swear at the 
old furniture and the delightful old portraits. 
Harper'* Mag., LXXVIII. 258. 
To swear by, to treat as an infallible authority ; place 
great confidence In. [Colloq. ] 
1 hear your grace huth mcuru out house-keeping. 
Shak., L. I- I.., II. 1. 104. 
II. trail*. 1. To utter oraflinn with n xulrinii 
appeal to God, a divinity, or something held to 
be sacred for the truth of the declaration: as, 
to mri'iir an oath. 
I dare saye, and saufly norre, 
The knyght Is trewe and trust. 
Lytell Gerte n/ Uobyn Itode (Child's Ballads, V. MX 
The Scoti without refusal swure him Allegiance. 
MMon, UUt. Eug., T. 
2. To promise in a solemn manner; vow. 
Well, tell me now what lady U the same 
To whom you sirore a secret pilgrimage? 
Shot., M. ofV., I. 1. 120. 
Come join thy hands to mine, 
And merar a Itrmneu to what project I 
Shall lay before thee. 
Beau, and Fl., Maid's Tragedy, III 2. 
And Oalahad ncare the vow, 
And good Sir Bora, our Lancelot's cousin, sware. 
Trnnyton, Holy (I rail. 
Let me put mine hand In thine and mrear 
To serve thee faithfully a changing year. 
William Murrit, Earthly Paradise, I. 294. 
3. To put to an oath; cause to take an oath; 
bind by an oath: as, to swear witnesses in 
court; to swear a jury. 
Ill kiss thy foot ; 111 ncear myself thy subject 
Shak., Tempest, ii. 2. 150. 
Are we not all his subjects, all worn to him? 
Fletcher, Loyal Subject, IT. 7. 
He nuore also certaine of the chlefe men of cilery tribe 
to bee Balllffes thereof. 
Quoted in Capt. John Stnith's Works. II. 136. 
My worthy colleague, Mr. .lame* Bnller, began to sieear 
privy councilors In the name of "King George IV. Wil- 
liam, I mean," to the great diversion of the council. 
Oremlle, Memoirs, July 18, 1830. 
4. To declare or charge upon oath: as, tottwear 
treason against a man. 5. To appeal to by 
an oath; call to witness. [Rare.] 
Now, by Apollo, king, 
Thou swear'st thy gods in vain. 
Shak., Lear, i. 1. 103. 
6. To utter in a profane manner. 
Being thus frighted, swear* a prayer or two, 
And sleeps again. Shak., R. and J., I. 4. 87. 
To swear In, to induct Into office by administering an 
oath. 
I was room in the day before yesterday, and kissed 
hands at a council at Carlton House yesterday morning as 
clerk of the council. GrevilU, Memoirs, March 22, 1821. 
To swear the peace against one, to make oath that 
one Is under the actual fear of death or bodily harm from 
some person, In which case the person may be required 
to give sureties of the peace. See surety. 
You must let his Clerk, Jonathan Item, Swear the Peace 
nyainst you to keep yon from Duelling, or Insure your 
life, which you may do for Eight per cent. 
Quoted In Athlon Social Life In Kelgn of Queen Anne, 
[IL 198. 
swear 1 (swar), ii. [<trearl, t'.] An oath. [Col- 
loq.] 
swear 2 (swar), a. See sweer. 
swearer (swar'er), n. [< stcearl + -!.] One 
who swears, in any sense; one who utters or 
takes an oath. 
She'll . . . make our swearers priests. 
Shak., Pericles, Iv. 6. 13. 
For it is the opinion of our most refined swearers that 
the same oath or curse cannot, consistently with true 
politeness, be repeated above nine times in the same com- 
pany by the same person, and at one sitting. 
Sirtft, Polite Conversation, Int. 
swear-word (swar'werd), n. A profane word ; 
an oath. [Colloq.] 
There has been In the past an immense quantity of 
scolding, occasionally a tirear word. 
Elect. Review (Amer.), XII. 1. 11. 
sweat (swet), n. [Early mod. E. also swet ; dial. 
swat; < ME. swette, swete, swoot, swot, sicote, < 
AS. swat = OS. swet = OFries. swet = MD. 
sweet, D. zweet = MLG. swet, LG. sweet = OHG. 
MHG. swet:, G. schiceiss = Icel. *sceit, in sec- 
ondary form sceiti (cf. also sriti) = Sw. svett = 
Dan. sred = Skt. sreda, sweat : cf. L. sudor, n., 
sudare, v.. Gr. Mpuf, irfoj, Lith. swidrs, sweat, 
Skt. V srid, sweat. From the L. root are ult. 
E. satiation, sudatory, sudorific, exvdr, transude, 
etc.] 1. Moisture exuded "from the skin, an 
excretion containing from one to two per cent. 
of solids, consisting of sodium chlorid, formic, 
acetic, butyric, and other fatty acids, neutral 
fats, and cholesterin; sensible perspiration; 
especially, the excessive perspiration produced 
by t-xertion, toil, the operation of sudorific 
medicines, etc. 
