Sekirov Dictionary

sway

/ˈsweɪ̯/

verb 8
noun 8
forms 6
phrases 1

verb8

•
To move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock.
- The trees swayed in the breeze.
•
To cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward; to bias; to turn; to bend; to warp.
- reeds swayed by the wind
- judgment swayed by passion
•
To be drawn to one side by weight or influence; to lean; to incline.
- euen in these Personall Respects, the Ballance swayes on our part: […] — 1627
•
To influence or direct by power, authority, persuasion, or by moral force; to rule; to govern; to guide. Compare persuade.
- Do you think you can sway their decision?
•
To have weight or influence.
- The example of sundry churches […] doth sway much. — 1594
•
To bear sway; to rule; to govern.
- Hadst thou swayed as kings should do. — 1591
•
To move or wield with the hand; to swing; to wield.
- As sparckles from the Anduile vse to fly, / When heauie hammers on the wedge are swaid — 1590
To hoist (a mast or yard) into position.

noun8

The act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon.
•
Influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side
- I doubt I'll hold much sway with someone so powerful.
•
Rule; dominion; control; power.
- Prayuth's return as prime minister takes Thailand back to 1980s. Military still holds sway in a democracy that has yet to mature. — 2019
•
A rocking or swinging motion.
- The old song caused a little sway in everyone in the room.
The maximum amplitude of a vehicle's lateral motion.
Preponderance; turn or cast of balance.
A switch or rod used by thatchers to bind their work.
Synonym of sweet flag (“Acorus calamus”)

forms

sway'd · swayed · swaying · swayeth · sways · swayest

Phrases with sway

hold sway
To have the greatest influence (over someone or something); to be pre-eminent; to dominate.

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