Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SWARM, n. [Sax. swearm; G. schwarm; D. zwerm; Dan. sverm; Sw. svärm. This seems to be formed on the root of warm. The Sp. hervir, to boil, to swarm, is the L. ferveo, and boiling is very expressive of the motions of a swarm of bees. See the Verb.]

1. In a general sense, a large number or body of small animals or insects, particularly when in motion; but appropriately, a great number of honey bees which emigrate from a hive at once, and seek new lodgings under the direction of a queen; or a like body of bees united and settled permanently in a hive. The bees that leave a hive in spring are the young bees produced in the year preceding. – Exod. viii. Judges xiv.
2. A swarm or multitude; particularly, a multitude of people in motion. Swarms of northern nations overran the South of Europe in the fifth century. Note. The application of this word to inanimate things, as swarms of advantages, by Shakspeare, and swarms of themes, by Young, is not legitimate, for the essence of the word is motion.