Sway Definition & Meaning | Bay Area Crosswords

About The Word Sway

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Sway

Sway Definition And Meaning
What's The Definition Of Sway? [n] pitching dangerously to one side [n] controlling influence [v] cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action; twist somebody's arm; "You can't persuade me to buy this ugly vase!"; "The teenager's parents were not swayed by their daughter's arguments" [v] move back and forth in an unstable manner; "the ship was rocking"; "the tall building swayed"; "the tree shook in the wind" [v] cause to move back and forth; "rock the cradle"; "the wind swayed the trees gently" [v] move or walk in a swinging or swaying manner; "He swung back" [v] sway gently back and forth, as of flowers or tress in the wind [v] move sideways or in an unsteady way, as of a ship or a vehicle out of control [v] win approval or support for; "Carry all before one" Synonyms \| Synonyms for Sway: careen \| careen \| carry \| nod \| persuade \| persuade \| rock \| rock \| shake \| shift \| swing \| tilt \| tilt \| wobble Related Terms \| Find terms related to Sway: See Also \| act upon \| badger \| blarney \| brachiate \| brainwash \| bring around \| bring round \| cajole \| cause \| charm \| chat up \| coax \| convert \| convince \| displace \| drag \| get \| have \| induce \| influence \| influence \| inveigle \| lash \| lurch \| make \| move \| move back and forth \| nutate \| oscillate \| palaver \| pitch \| pitching \| power \| powerfulness \| prevail \| rope in \| score \| seduce \| sell \| stimulate \| swag \| sweet-talk \| talk into \| tempt \| totter \| vibrate \| waver \| weave \| wheedle \| win over \| work Sway In Webster's Dictionary \Sway\, 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 sway the scepter. As sparkles from the anvil rise, 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. --Shak. She could not sway her house. --Shak. This was the race 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 passion. As bowls run true by being made 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\, v. 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. --Shak. \Sway\, n. 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 desires. --A. Tucker. 3. Preponderance; turn or cast of balance. Expert When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway Of battle. --Milton. 4. Rule; dominion; control. --Cowper. When vice prevails, and impious men bear 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.

Sway Definition And Meaning

What's The Definition Of Sway?

[n] pitching dangerously to one side
[n] controlling influence
[v] cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action; twist somebody's arm; "You can't persuade me to buy this ugly vase!"; "The teenager's parents were not swayed by their daughter's arguments"
[v] move back and forth in an unstable manner; "the ship was rocking"; "the tall building swayed"; "the tree shook in the wind"
[v] cause to move back and forth; "rock the cradle"; "the wind swayed the trees gently"
[v] move or walk in a swinging or swaying manner; "He swung back"
[v] sway gently back and forth, as of flowers or tress in the wind
[v] move sideways or in an unsteady way, as of a ship or a vehicle out of control
[v] win approval or support for; "Carry all before one"

Related Terms | Find terms related to Sway:

Sway In Webster's Dictionary

\Sway\, 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
   sway the scepter.

         As sparkles from the anvil rise, 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. --Shak.

         She could not sway her house.         --Shak.

         This was the race 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 passion.

         As bowls run true by being made 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\, v. 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. --Shak.


\Sway\, n.
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 desires. --A. Tucker.

3. Preponderance; turn or cast of balance.

         Expert When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway
         Of battle.                            --Milton.

4. Rule; dominion; control. --Cowper.

         When vice prevails, and impious men bear 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.

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