sway

sway
I. noun Etymology: Middle English sweigh, from sweyen Date: 14th century 1. the action or an instance of swaying or of being swayed ; an oscillating, fluctuating, or sweeping motion 2. an inclination or deflection caused by or as if by swaying 3. a. a controlling influence b. sovereign power ; dominion c. the ability to exercise influence or authority ; dominance Synonyms: see power II. verb Etymology: alteration of earlier swey to fall, swoon, from Middle English sweyen, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse sveigja to sway; akin to Lithuanian svaigti to become dizzy Date: circa 1500 intransitive verb 1. a. to swing slowly and rhythmically back and forth from a base or pivot b. to move gently from an upright to a leaning position 2. to hold sway ; act as ruler or governor 3. to fluctuate or veer between one point, position, or opinion and another transitive verb 1. a. to cause to sway ; set to swinging, rocking, or oscillating b. to cause to bend downward to one side c. to cause to turn aside ; deflect, divert 2. archaic a. wield b. govern, rule 3. a. to cause to vacillate b. to exert a guiding or controlling influence on 4. to hoist in place <
sway up a mast
>
Synonyms: see swing, affectswayer noun

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Sway — (sw[=a]), v. t. [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}, v. i.] 1. To move or wield with the hand; to swing; to wield; as, to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sway — Sway, n. 1. The act of swaying; a swaying motion; the swing or sweep of a weapon. [1913 Webster] With huge two handed sway brandished aloft. Milton. [1913 Webster] 2. Influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side; as, the sway of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sway — ist: ein Ort in England, siehe Sway (Hampshire) ein Unternehmen für Spezialeffekt in der Filmbranche, siehe Sway (Unternehmen) ein Konzept für eine schwimmende Windkraftanlage ein Künstlername, siehe Sister Sway eine Hardrockband aus Hannover,… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Sway — (sw[=a]), v. i. 1. To be drawn to one side by weight or influence; to lean; to incline. [1913 Webster] The balance sways on our part. Bacon. [1913 Webster] 2. To move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward. [1913 Webster] 3. To have… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sway — Sway  англоязычная версия песни «¿Quién será?», мамбо 1953 года мексиканского композитора и руководителя оркестра Пабло Бельтрана Руиса. В 1954 году английский текст написал Норман Джимбел[1], и песню записал Дин Мартин (его запись …   Википедия

  • sway — sway; sway·er; sway·ing·ly; sway·less; …   English syllables

  • sway — [n] strong influence amplitude, authority, clout, command, control, dominion, empire, expanse, government, jurisdiction, mastery, might, power, predominance, range, reach, regime, reign, rule, run, scope, sovereignty, spread, stretch, sweep;… …   New thesaurus

  • sway — [swā] vi. [ME sweyen < ON sveigja, to turn, bend: for IE base see SWATHE1] 1. a) to swing or move from side to side or to and fro b) to vacillate or alternate between one position, opinion, etc. and another c) to lean or incline to one side;… …   English World dictionary

  • sway — ► VERB 1) move slowly and rhythmically backwards and forwards or from side to side. 2) cause (someone) to change their opinion; influence. 3) literary rule; govern. ► NOUN 1) a swaying movement. 2) influence; rule. ● …   English terms dictionary

  • sway — c.1300, to go, glide, move, probably from O.N. sveigja to bend, swing, give way, from P.Gmc. *swaigijanan and related to SWAG (Cf. swag) (v.) and SWING (Cf. swing). The sense of swing, wave, waver is first recorded c.1500. Related: Swayed;… …   Etymology dictionary

  • sway — vb 1 *swing, oscillate, fluctuate, pendulate, vibrate, waver, undulate Analogous words: *shake, rock, agitate, convulse 2 influence, impress, strike, touch, *affect Analogous words: control, direct, manage, *conduct: rule, * …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”