Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SWIV-EL, v.i. [swiv'l.]

To turn on a staple, pin or pivot.

SWIV'EL-HOOK, n.

A hook that turns in the end of an iron block strap, for the ready taking the turns out of a tackle. – Cyc.

SWOB, n.

A mop. [See Swab.]

SWOB, v.t.

To clean or wipe with a swob. [See Swab.]

SWOB'BER, n.

1. One who swabs or cleans with a mop. [See Swabber.]
2. Swobbers, four privileged cards, only used incidentally in betting at the game of whist. – Swift.

SWOL'LEN, or SWOLN, pp. [of Swell; irregular and obsolescent. The regular participle, swelled, is to be preferred.]

SWOM, v. [old pret. of Swim, is obsolete. We now use swum and swam.]

SWOON, n.

A fainting fit; lipothymy; syncope. – Coxe.

SWOON, v.i. [Sax. aswunan. Qu. wane, vain, vanish.]

To faint; to sink into a fainting fit, in which there is an apparent suspension of the vital functions and mental powers. The most in years swoon'd first away for pain. – Dryden. He seem'd ready to swoon away in the surprise of joy. – Tatler.

SWOONING, n.

The act of fainting; syncope. – Hall.

SWOON'ING, ppr.

Fainting away.

SWOOP, n.

A falling on and seizing, as of a rapacious fowl on his prey. The eagle fell and carried away a whole litter of cubs at a swoop. – L'Estrange.

SWOOP, v.i.

To pass with pomp. – Drayton.

SWOOP, v.t. [This is probably from sweep, or the same root.]

1. To fall on at once and seize; to catch while on the wing; as, a hawk swoops a chicken; a kite swoops up a mouse.
2. To seize; to catch up; to take with a sweep. – Glanville.
3. To pass with violence. [Not in use.] – Drayton.

SWOP, v.t.

To exchange; to barter; to give one commodity for another. [See Swap. This is a common word, but not in elegant use.]

SWORD, n. [Sax. sword, sweord; G. schwert; D. zwaard; Dan. sværd; Sw. svärd.]

1. An offensive weapon worn at the aide, and used by hand either for thrusting or cutting.
2. Figuratively, destruction by war. I will bring a sword upon you. – Lev. xxvi. Isa. li.
3. Vengeance or justice. She quits the balance, and resigns the sword. – Dryden.
4. Emblem of authority and power. The ruler-beareth not the sword in vain. – Rom. xiii.
5. War; dissension. I came not to send peace but a sword. – Matth. x.
6. Emblem of triumph and protection. The Lord … the sword of thy excellence. – Deut. xxxiii.

SWORD-BEAR-ER, n. [sword and bear.]

An officer in the city of London, who carries a sword as an emblem of justice before the lord mayor when he goes abroad.

SWORD-BELT, n. [sword and belt.]

A belt by which a sword is suspended and borne by the side.

SWORD-BLADE, n. [sword and blade.]

The blade or cutting part of a sword.

SWORD'ED, a.

Girded with a sword. – Milton.

SWORD'ER, n.

A soldier; a cut-throat. [Not in use.] – Shak.

SWORD-FIGHT, n. [sword and fight.]

Fencing; a combat or trial of skill with swords.

SWORD-FISH, n. [sword and fish.]

A genus of fishes called in ichthyology, xiphias; so named from the nose, snow or upper jaw, which is shaped like a sword. – Cyc.

SWORD-GRASS, n. [sword and grass.]

A kind of sedge; glader; the sweet rush, a species of Acorus. – Ainsworth. Cyc.

SWORD-KNOT, n. [sword and knot.]

A ribin tied to the hilt of a sword. – Pope.