Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SWAL'LOW, v.t. [Sax. swelgan, swilgan, to swallow, to swill; D. zwelgen; Sw. svälja, to swallow; svalg, the throat; Dan. svælger. Qu. the Fr. avaler, with a prefix, and the root of fall.]

1. To take into the stomach; to receive through the gullet or esophagus into the stomach; as, to swallow food or drink. Food should be well chewed before it is swallowed.
2. To absorb; to draw and sink into an abyss or gulf; to ingulf; usually followed by up. The Malstrom off the coast of Norway, it is said, will swallow up a ship. In bogs swallow'd up and lost. – Milton. The earth opened and swallowed them up. – Numb. xvi.
3. To receive or embrace, as opinions or belief, without examination or scruple; to receive implicitly. – Locke.
4. To engross; to appropriate. Homer … has swallowed up the honor of those who succeeded him. – Pope.
5. To occupy; to employ. The necessary provision of life swallows the greatest part of their time. – Locke.
6. To seize and waste. Corruption swallow'd what the liberal hand / Of bounty scatter'd. – Thomson.
7. To engross; to engage completely. The priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink; they are swallowed up or wine. – Is. xxviii.
8. To exhaust; to consume. His expenses swallow up all his income.