SWEDE, sw[=e]d, _n._ a native of _Sweden_; a Swedish turnip.--_adj._
SW[=E]D'ISH, pertaining to Sweden, to Swedish turnips, gloves of undressed
kid, &c.
SWEDENBORGIAN, sw[=e]-dn-bor'ji-an, _n._ one who holds the religious
doctrines of Emanuel Swedenborg, a Swedish philosopher (1688-1772), founder
of the New Jerusalem Church.--_n._ SWEDENBOR'GIANISM.
SWEENY, sw[=e]'ni, _n._ atrophy of a muscle.
SWEEP, sw[=e]p, _v.t._ to wipe or rub over with a brush or broom: to carry
along or off by a long brushing stroke or force: to destroy or carry off at
a stroke: to strike with a long stroke: to carry with pomp: to drag over:
to pass rapidly over.--_v.i._ to pass swiftly and forcibly: to pass with
pomp: to move with a long reach:--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ swept.--_n._ act of
sweeping: extent of a stroke, or of anything turning or in motion:
prevalence, range: direction of a curve: the act of bringing into a general
movement: rapid or wide-spread destructiveness: a curved approach before a
building: a chimney-sweeper: (_pl._) oars of great length used during a
calm or in still water, either to assist the rudder or to propel the
vessel.--_n._ SWEEP'ER.--_adv._ SWEEP'INGLY, in a sweeping manner.--_n._
SWEEP'INGNESS.--_n.pl._ SWEEP'INGS, things collected by sweeping:
rubbish.--_ns._ SWEEP'-NET, a net that embraces a large compass:
SWEEP'STAKE (_Shak._), one who wins all--usually in _pl._ SWEEP'STAKES, a
method of gambling by which several persons contribute each certain stakes,
the whole of which fall to one in case of a certain event happening;
SWEEP'-WASH'ER, one who scrapes a little gold or silver from the sweepings
of refineries.--_adj._ SWEEP'Y, swaying, sweeping, curving. [A.S. _swápan_;
Ger. _schweifen_, Cf. _Swoop_.]
SWEER, SWEIR, sw[=e]r, _adj._ (_Scot._) lazy, unwilling. [A.S. _sw['æ]r_,
_swár_, heavy.]
SWEET, sw[=e]t, _adj._ pleasing to the taste or senses: tasting like sugar:
fragrant: melodious: beautiful, grateful to the eye: fresh, as opposed to
salt or to sour: pure: recent, not stale, sour, or putrid: mild, soft,
gentle: kind, obliging.--_n._ a sweet substance: a term of endearment:
(_pl._) sweetmeats, confections: sweet dishes served at table, puddings,
tarts, jellies, &c.--_v.t._ (_obs._) to sweeten.--_adj._ SWEET'-AND-TWEN'TY
(_Shak._), at once fair and young.--_ns._ SWEET'-BAY, the laurel (_Laurus
nobilis_); SWEET'BREAD, the pancreas of an animal used for food, both
delicate and nutritious.--_adj._ SWEET'-BREATHED, sweet-smelling.--_ns._
SWEET'-BR[=I]'ER, a thorny shrub of the rose kind resembling the brier,
having a sweet smell; SWEET'-CORN, a variety of maize.--_v.t._ SWEET'EN, to
make sweet: to make pleasing, mild, or kind: to increase the agreeable
qualities of: to make pure and healthy.--_ns._ SWEET'ENER, one who, or that
which, sweetens; SWEET'ENING, act of sweetening: that which sweetens;
SWEET'-FLAG, -RUSH, an aromatic plant of the genus _Acorus_ of the arum
family; SWEET'HEART, a lover or mistress.--_n.pl._ SWEET'IES,
confections.--_n._ SWEET'ING, a sweet apple: (_Shak._) a darling, a word of
endearment.--_adj._ SWEET'ISH, somewhat sweet to the taste.--_ns._
SWEET'ISHNESS; SWEET'-JOHN, a flower of the narrow-leaved varieties of a
species of pink, _Dianthus barbatus_, as distinguished from other varieties
called _Sweet-william_; SWEET'LEAF, a small tree in the southern United
States, having sweetish leaves relished by cattle and horses; SWEET'-LIPS,
one whose lips are sweet--a term of endearment: the ballanwrasse, or
_Labrus maculatus_.--_adv._ SWEET'LY.--_ns._ SWEET'-MAR'JORAM, a fragrant
species of marjoram; SWEET'MEAT, a confection made wholly or chiefly of
sugar; SWEET'-NAN'CY, the double-flowered variety of _Narcissus poeticus_;
SWEET'NESS; SWEET'-OIL, olive-oil; SWEET'-PEA, a pea cultivated for its
fragrance and beauty; SWEET'-POT[=A]'TO, a twining plant common in tropical
and sub-tropical countries, having large sweetish edible tubers.--_adj._
SWEET'-SCENT'ED, having a sweet smell.--_n._ SWEET'-SOP, a tropical
American evergreen, also its pulpy fruit.--_adj._ SWEET'-TEM'PERED, having
a mild, amiable disposition.--_ns._ SWEET'-WA'TER, a white variety of the
European grape, with very sweet juice; SWEET'-WILL'IAM, the bunch-pink,
_Dianthus barbatus_, a garden flower of many colours and varieties;
SWEET'WOOD, a name applied to various trees and shrubs of the laurel family
found in South America and the West Indies.--BE SWEET ON, or UPON, to be in
love with. [A.S. _swéte_; Ger. _süsz_, Gr. _h[=e]dys_, L. _suavis_, sweet,
Sans. _svad_, to taste.]
SWELL, swel, _v.i._ to grow larger: to expand: to rise into waves: to
heave: to be inflated: to bulge out: to grow louder: to be bombastic, to
strut: to become elated, arrogant, or angry: to grow upon the view: to grow
more violent: to grow louder, as a note.--_v.t._ to increase the size of:
to aggravate: to increase the sound of: to raise to arrogance: to augment
the sound of:--_pa.p._ swelled or swollen (sw[=o]ln).--_n._ act of
swelling: a bulge or protuberance: increase in size: an increase and a
succeeding decrease in the volume of a tone: a gradual rise of ground: a
wave or billow or succession of them in one direction, as after a storm: a
distinct set of pipes in an organ, enclosed in a case furnished with
movable shutters which being more or less opened by means of a pedal,
produce a swell of sound: (_geol._) an upward protrusion of strata from
whose central region the beds dip quaquaversally at a low angle: a
strutting foppish fellow, a dandy.--_adj._ fashionable.--_n._ SWELL'DOM,
the fashionable world generally.--_adj._ SWELL'ING (_B._), inflated, proud,
haughty.--_n._ protuberance: a tumour: a rising, as of passion: (_B._)
inflation by pride.--_adj._ SWELL'ISH, foppish, dandified.--_ns._
SWELL'-MOB, well-dressed pickpockets collectively; SWELL'-MOBS'MAN, a
well-dressed pickpocket. [A.S. _swellan_; Ger. _schwellen_.]
SWELT, swelt, _v.i._ (_Spens._) to swelter.
SWELTER, swelt'[.e]r, _v.i._ to be faint or oppressed with heat: to
perspire copiously from heat.--_v.t._ to cause to faint, to overpower, as
with heat.--_p.adj._ SWELT'ERING.--_adv._ SWELT'ERINGLY.--_adj._ SWELT'RY,
sultry, oppressive with heat. [A.S. _sweltan_, to die; Ice. _svelta_, to
hunger.]
SWEPT, swept, _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of _sweep_.
SWERVE, sw[.e]rv, _v.i._ to turn, depart from any line, duty, or custom: to
incline: to rove, wander.--_n._ an act of swerving.--_adj._ SWERVE'LESS,
that does not swerve.--_n._ SWERV'ER, one who swerves. [A.S. _sweorfan_;
Dut. _zwerven_.]
SWEVEN, sw[=e]'vn, _n._ (_obs._) a dream.--_v.t._ and _v.i._ to sleep,
dream. [A.S. _swefen_, sleep, dream.]
SWIFT, swift, _adj._ moving quickly: fleet, rapid: speedy: ready.--_n._ a
genus (_Cypselus_) and family (_Cypselidæ_) of picarian birds, resembling
the swallows in general appearance and habits, but most closely allied by
anatomical structure to the humming-birds--with long pointed wings, a short
tail, and remarkable powers of rapid and prolonged flight: the common newt:
a reel for winding yarn: the main cylinder of a carding-machine: the
current of a stream.--_n._ SWIF'TER, any rope temporarily used to tighten
or keep a thing in its place.--_adjs._ SWIFT'-FOOT'ED; SWIFT'-HAND'ED;
SWIFT'-HEELED.--_adv._ SWIFT'LY, with swiftness: rapidly.--_n._ SWIFT'NESS,
quality of being swift: quickness: fleetness: rapidity: speed.--_adj._
SWIFT'-WINGED. [A.S. _swift_, from same root as _swoop_.]
SWIG, swig, _n._ a pulley with ropes not parallel.--_v.t._ to tighten a
rope by hauling at right angles to its lead: to castrate by ligating the
scrotum and making the testicles slough off. [Prob. _swag_.]
SWIG, swig, _n._ a large draught: one who drinks deep.--_v.t._ to drink by
large draughts, to gulp down. [Prob. conn. with A.S. _swelgan_, to
swallow.]
SWILL, swil, _v.t._ or _v.i._ to drink greedily or largely, to drink
habitually, to drench one's self with: to wash, rinse.--_n._ a large
draught of liquor: the liquid mixture given to swine.--_ns._ SWILL'ER;
SWILL'ING.--_n.pl._ SWILL'INGS, hog wash. [A.S. _swilian_, to wash; cf. Sw.
_sqvala_, to gush.]
SWIM, swim, _v.i._ to float, as opposed to sink: to move on or in water: to
be borne along by a current: to glide along with a waving motion: to be
dizzy: to be drenched: to overflow: to abound.--_v.t._ to pass by swimming:
to make to swim or float:--_pr.p._ swim'ming; _pa.t._ swam; _pa.p._ swum or
swam.--_n._ act of swimming: any motion like swimming: air-bladder of a
fish.--_adj._ SWIM'MABLE, capable of being swum.--_ns._ SWIM'MER, one who
swims: a web-footed aquatic bird; SWIM'MERET, one of the abdominal
appendages which in the lobster and other Crustacea are used in swimming;
SWIM'MING, the act of floating or moving on or in the water: dizziness;
SWIM'MING-BATH, a bath large enough for swimming in.--_adv._ SWIM'MINGLY,
in a gliding manner, as if swimming: smoothly, successfully.--_ns._
SWIM'MINGNESS, the state of swimming: a melting look, tearfulness;
SWIM'MING-POND, an artificial pond adapted for swimming in;
SWIM'MING-SCHOOL, a place where swimming is taught; SWIM'MING-STONE, a
cellular variety of flint--_float-stone_.--IN THE SWIM, in the main
current, of affairs, business, &c. [A.S. _swimman_; Ger. _schwimmen_.]
SWINCK, swingk, _v.i._ (_Spens._). Same as SWINK.
SWINDGE, swindj, _v.t._ (_Milt._). Same as SWINGE (1).
SWINDLE, swin'dl, _v.t._ to cheat under the pretence of fair dealing.--_n._
the act of swindling or defrauding: anything not really what it appears to
be.--_adj._ SWIN'DLEABLE, capable of being swindled.--_ns._ SWIN'DLER, one
who defrauds by imposition: a cheat or rogue; SWIN'DLERY, roguery,
swindling practices.--_adj._ SWIN'DLING, cheating. [Ger. _schwindler_, a
cheat--_schwindeln_, to be giddy, _schwinden_empty, to sink; A.S.
_swindan_, to droop.]
SWINE, sw[=i]n, _n.sing._ and _pl._ a well-known quadruped with bristly
skin and long snout, fed for its flesh: a pig: pigs collectively.--_ns._
SWINE'HERD, a herd or keeper of swine; SWINE'-POX, chicken-pox; SWIN'ERY, a
place where pigs are kept; SWINE'S'-SNOUT, the dandelion; SWINE'-STONE
(same as STINK-STONE); SWINE'-STY, a pig-sty. [A.S. _swín_, a pig; Ger.
_schwein_, L. _sus_, Gr. _hys_.]
SWING, swing, _v.i._ to sway or wave to and fro, as a body hanging in air:
to move forward with swaying gait: to vibrate: to practise swinging: to
turn round at anchor: to be hanged.--_v.t._ to move to and fro: to cause to
wave or vibrate: to whirl, to brandish: to cause to wheel or turn as about
some point: to fix up anything so as to hang freely:--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._
swung.--_n._ the act of swinging: motion to and fro: a waving motion:
anything suspended for swinging in: the sweep or compass of a swinging
body: the sweep of a golf-club when driving: influence or power of anything
put in motion: free course, unrestrained liberty.--_ns._ SWING'-BACK, a
device for adjusting the plate-holder of a camera at any desired angle;
SWING'BOAT, a boat-shaped carriage swung from a frame, in use for swinging
in at fairs, &c.; SWING'-BRIDGE, a bridge that may be moved aside by
swinging, at the mouth of docks, &c.; SWING'-CHURN, a churn-box so hung as
to be worked by oscillation; SWING'ER; SWING'-HAN'DLE, a pivoted handle of
any utensil, esp. a bail or other arched handle; SWING'ING, the act of
moving back and forth, esp. the pastime of moving in a swing.--_adj._
having a free easy motion.--_n._ SWING'ING-BOOM, the spar which stretches
the foot of a lower studding-sail.--_adv._ SWING'INGLY, in a
swinging-manner.--_ns._ SWING'ING-POST, the post to which a gate is hung;
SWING'ISM, a form of intimidation common in England about 1830-33, which
consisted mainly in sending letters signed 'Swing' or 'Captain Swing' to
farmers, ordering them under threats to give up threshing-machines, &c.;
SWING'-M[=O]'TION, a mechanism in the truck of a railway carriage, &c.,
permitting swaying from side to side; SWING'-PAN, a sugar-pan with spout,
pivoted so that it may be emptied by tipping; SWING'-PLOUGH, a plough
without a fore-wheel under the beam; SWING'-SHELF, a hanging shelf;
SWING'-STOCK, an upright timber, with a blunt edge at top over which flax
was beaten by the swingle--also SWING'ING-BLOCK; SWING'-SWANG, a complete
oscillation.--_adj._ swinging, drawling.--_ns._ SWING'-T[=A]'BLE, a
moveable bed on which plate-glass is cemented for polishing; SWING'-TOOL, a
holder swinging on horizontal centres, on which work is fastened so as to
hold flat against the face of a file; SWING'-TREE=_Swingle-tree_ (q.v.);
SWING'-TROT, a swinging trot; SWING'-WHEEL, the wheel that drives a clock
pendulum, corresponding to the balance-wheel in a watch. [A.S. _swingan_;
Ger. _schwingen_, to swing; allied to _wag_, _sway_.]
SWINGE, swinj, _v.t._ to beat, chastise: to forge, weld together: to wave
to and fro.--_n._ a lash, a lashing movement.--_n._ SWINGE'-BUCK'LER
(_Shak._), one who pretends to feats of arms, a blusterer.--_adj._
SWINGE'ING, great, huge.--_adv._ SWINGE'INGLY.--_n._ SWINGER (swinj'[.e]r),
any person or thing great or astonishing, a bold lie, a whopper. [A.S.
_swengan_, to shake, a causal form of _swingan_, to swing.]
SWINGE, swinj, _v.t._ (_Spens._). Same as SINGE.
SWINGLE, swing'gl, _v.t._ to dress or separate the fibrous parts of flax
from the woody substance by beating.--_n._ an implement for this
purpose.--_ns._ SWING'LE, the part of the flail which falls on the grain in
threshing; SWING'LE-TREE, SING'LE-TREE, the cross-piece of a carriage,
plough, &c. to which the traces of a harnessed horse are fixed. [_Swing_.]
SWINISH, sw[=i]'nish, _adj._ like or befitting swine: gross:
brutal.--_adv._ SWIN'ISHLY.--_n._ SWIN'ISHNESS.
SWINK, swingk, _v.i._ (_Spens._) to labour, to toil, to drudge.--_v.t._ to
tire out with labour.--_n._ labour.--_adj._ SWINK'ED (_Milt._), wearied
with labour, fatigued. [A.S. _swincan_, to labour; cf. _swingan_, swing.]
SWIPE, sw[=i]p, _n._ a hard blow.--_v.t._ to give a strong blow to: to
steal by snatching.--_n._ SW[=I]'PER, one who swipes. [A.S. _swipe_, a
whip.]
SWIPES, sw[=i]ps, _n._ bad or spoilt beer, also small-beer.--_adj._
SW[=I]'PEY, fuddled with malt liquor.
SWIRE, sw[=i]r, _n._ a hollow between two hills. [Prob. A.S. _swéora_, the
neck.]
SWIRL, sw[.e]rl, _v.i._ to sweep along with a whirling motion.--_n._
whirling motion, as of wind or water: a curl or twist: the rush of a fish
through the water in rising to a fly.--_adj._ SWIRL'Y. [Skeat explains as
Scand., Norw. _svirla_, to whirl round, a freq. of _sverra_, to whirl,
orig. to hum.]
SWISH, swish, _v.t._ to cause to move or to cut with a whistling sound: to
flog, thrash.--_n._ a swishing sound.--_adv._ in a swishing manner or with
such a sound.--_ns._ SWISH'ER, one who swishes or flogs; SWISH'-SWASH, a
swishing action or sound: a washy drink. [Imit.]
SWISS, swis, _adj._ of or belonging to _Switzerland_.--_n._ a native of
Switzerland: the language of Switzerland: a High German patois, spoken in
fifteen of the cantons.--_n._ SWIT'ZER, a native of Switzerland: one of a
hired bodyguard of a king or pope.--SWISS GUARDS, a celebrated corps or
regiment of Swiss mercenaries in the French army of the old régime,
constituted 'Gardes' by royal decree in 1616.
SWISSING, swis'ing, _n._ the calendering of bleached cloth, after
dampening, by passing between bowls or pairs of rollers.
SWITCH, swich, _n._ a small flexible twig: a movable rail for transferring
a carriage from one line of rails to another: a device to make or break a
circuit, or transfer an electric current from one conductor to
another.--_v.t._ to strike with a switch: to swing, whisk: to transfer a
carriage from one line of rails to another by a switch: to shift from one
circuit to another, or in or out of circuit, as an electric current, to
shunt.--_ns._ SWITCH'BACK, a term applied to a zigzagging, alternate
back-and-forward mode of progression up a slope; SWITCH'BACK-RAIL'WAY, an
apparatus for public amusement, consisting of a short length of elevated
railway with a series of rounded inclines, so that the car gains enough of
momentum descending the first steep incline to ascend one or more smaller
inclines till it gradually and more slowly works its way to the original
level at the far end of the course; SWITCH'ING, a beating with a switch:
trimming; SWITCH'MAN, a pointsman. [Old Dut. _swick_, a whip.]
SWITCHEL, swich'el, _n._ treacle-beer, molasses and water, &c.
SWITH, swith, _adv._ (_obs._) quickly: away! begone!
SWITHER, swith'[.e]r, _v.i._ (_prov._) to doubt, hesitate.--_n._
hesitation: a fright, a sweat.
[Illustration]
SWIVEL, swiv'l, _n._ something fixed in another body so as to turn round in
it: a ring or link that turns round on a pin or neck: a small cannon
turning on a swivel.--_v.i._ to turn on a pin or pivot.--_ns._ SWIV'EL-EYE,
a squint-eye; SWIV'EL-HOOK, a hook secured to anything by means of a
swivel. [A.S. _swífan_, to move quickly, to turn round.]
SWIZZLE, swiz'l, _v.i._ to drink to excess.--_n._ a mixed or compounded
drink.
SWOLLEN, sw[=o]ln, _pa.p._ of _swell_.
SWOON, sw[=oo]n, _v.i._ to faint: to fall into a fainting-fit.--_n._ the
act of swooning: a fainting-fit.--SWOOND'ED, obsolete _pa.t._ and _pa.p._
of _swoon_.--_n._ SWOON'ING.--_adv._ SWOON'INGLY, [M. E. _swounen_,
_swoghenen_--A.S. _swógan_, to resound.]
SWOOP, sw[=oo]p, _v.t._ to sweep down upon: to take with a sweep: to catch
while on the wing: to catch up.--_v.i._ to descend with a sweep.--_n._ the
act of swooping: a seizing, as a bird on its prey. [A.S. _swápan_, to
sweep; Ger. _schweifen_, to rove.]
SWOP, swop, _v.t._ to exchange, to barter:--_pr.p._ swop'ping; pa.t and
_pa.p._ swopped.--_n._ an exchange.--Also SWAP. [Most prob. the same as
obs. _swap_, _swop_, to beat, cog. with _swoop_.]
[Illustration]
SWORD, s[=o]rd, _n._ an offensive weapon with a long blade, sharp upon one
or both edges, for cutting or thrusting: destruction by the sword or by
war, war, military force: the emblem of vengeance or justice, or of
authority and power.--_adj._ SWORD'-AND-BUCK'LER, fought with sword and
buckler, not the rapier: armed with sword and buckler.--_ns._ SWORD'-ARM,
-HAND, the arm, hand, that wields the sword; SWORD'-BAY'ONET, a bayonet
shaped somewhat like a sword, and used as one; SWORD'-BEAR'ER, a public
officer who carries the sword of state; SWORD'-BELT, a military belt from
which the sword is hung; SWORD'BILL, a South American humming-bird with a
bill longer than its body; SWORD'-BREAK'ER, an old weapon for grasping and
breaking an adversary's sword; SWORD'-CANE, -STICK, a cane or stick
containing a sword; SWORD'CRAFT, skill with the sword; military power;
SWORD'-CUT, a blow, wound, or scar caused by the edge of a sword;
SWORD'-DANCE, a dance in which the display of naked swords, or movements
made with such, form a part; SWORD'-DOLL'AR, a Scotch silver coin under
James VI., worth 2s. 6d. in English money, having a sword on the reverse;
SWORD'ER (_Shak._), a swordsman; SWORD'FISH, a family of spiny-rayed
Teleostean fishes, sometimes 12 to 15 feet in length, with a sword about 3
feet long, formed from a compressed prolongation of the upper jaw;
SWORD'-FLAG, the European water-flag or yellow iris; SWORD'-GRASS, a kind
of sedge; SWORD'-GUARD, the part of a sword-hilt that protects the bearer's
hand; SWORD'-KNOT, a ribbon tied to the hilt of a sword; SWORD'-LAW,
government by the sword.--_adj._ SWORD'LESS, destitute of a sword.--_ns._
SWORD'PLAY, fencing; SWORD'PLAYER, a fencer.--_adj._ SWORD'-PROOF, capable
of resisting the blow or thrust of a sword.--_n._ SWORD'-RACK, a rack for
holding swords.--_adj._ SWORD'-SHAPED, ensiform.--_ns._ SWORDS'MAN, a man
skilled in the use of a sword; SWORDS'MANSHIP. [A.S. _sweord_; Ice.
_sverdh_, Ger. _schwert_.]
SWORE, SWORN. See SWEAR.
SWORN, sw[=o]rn, _pa.p._ of swear.--SWORN BROKER, a London broker who
swears before the court of aldermen to maintain honesty in dealing; SWORN
ENEMIES, enemies determined not to be reconciled; SWORN FRIENDS, fast or
close friends.
SWOTE, sw[=o]t, _adv._ (_Spens._) sweetly.