Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Sway
Sway
(swā)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Swayed
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Swaying
.] 1.
To move or wield with the hand; to swing; to wield;
as, to
. sway
the scepterAs sparkles from the anvil rise,
When heavy hammers on the wedge are
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
. Shakespeare
She could not
sway
her house. Shakespeare
This was the race
To
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 passionAs bowls run true by being made
On purpose false, and to be
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.
Sway
(swā)
, Verb.
I.
1.
To be drawn to one side by weight or influence; to lean; to incline.
The balance
sways
on our part. Bacon.
2.
To move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward.
3.
To have weight or influence.
The example of sundry churches . . . doth
sway
much. Hooker.
4.
To bear sway; to rule; to govern.
Hadst thou
swayed
as kings should do. Shakespeare
Sway
,Noun.
1.
The act of swaying; a swaying motion; the swing or sweep of a weapon.
With huge two-handed
sway
brandished aloft. Milton.
2.
Influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side;
as, the
. sway
of desiresA. Tucker.
3.
Preponderance; turn or cast of balance.
Expert
When to advance, or stand, or turn the
Of battle.
When to advance, or stand, or turn the
sway
Of battle.
Milton.
4.
Rule; dominion; control.
Cowper.
When vice prevails, and impious men bear
The post of honor is a private station.
sway
,The post of honor is a private station.
Addison.
5.
A switch or rod used by thatchers to bind their work.
[Prov. Eng.]
Halliwell.
Syn. – Rule; dominion; power; empire; control; influence; direction; preponderance; ascendency.
Webster 1828 Edition
Sway
SWAY
, v.t.1.
To move or wave; to wield with the hand; as, to sway the scepter.2.
To bias; to cause to lean or incline to one side. Let not temporal advantages sway you from the line of duty. The king was swayed by his council from the course he intended to pursue. As bowls run true by being made
On purpose false, and to be sway'd.
3.
To rule; to govern; to influence or direct by power and authority, or by moral force. This was the race
To sway the world, and land and sea subdue.
She could not sway her house.
Take heed lest passion sway
Thy judgment to do aught which else free will
Would not admit.
SWAY
,Verb.
I.
The balance sways on our part.
[This sense seems to indicate that this word and swag, are radically one.]
1.
To have weight or influence. The example of sundry churches--doth sway much.
2.
To bear rule; to govern. Had'st thou sway'd as kings should do--
3.
In seamen's language, to hoist, particularly applied to the lower yards and to the topmast yards, &c.SWAY
,Noun.
To strike with huge two-handed sway.
1.
Any thing moving with bulk and power. Are not you mov'd when all the sway of earth.
Shakes like a thing unfirm?
2.
Preponderation; turn or cast of balance. --Expert
When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway of battle.
3.
Power exerted in governing; rule; dominion; control. When vice prevails and impious men bear sway,
The post of honor is a private station.
4.
Influence; weight or authority that inclines to one side; as the sway of desires. All the world is subject to the sway of fashion.