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Sway

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sway¹

  • /ˈsweɪ̯/ US, UK
  • /ˈswe̞(ː)/
  • /ˈswæ̝ɪ̯/ Australia

Rhymes with -eɪ

Where it comes from

From earlier swey (“to fall, swoon”), from Middle English sweyen, from Old English *swǣġan (“to bend, bow”), from Proto-West Germanic *swaigijan, from Proto-Germanic *swaigijaną, from Proto-Indo-European *sweh₁-

See also Saterland Frisian swooie (“to swing, wave, wobble”); also Lithuanian svai̇̃gti (“to become giddy or dizzy”), the second element of Avestan 𐬞𐬀𐬌𐬭𐬌-𐬱𐬑𐬎𐬀𐬑𐬙𐬀 (paⁱri-šxuaxta, “to surround”), Sanskrit स्वजते (svájate, “he embraces, enfolds”).

The noun derived from the verb.

noun sways

  1. countable, uncountable The act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon.
  2. countable, uncountable A rocking or swinging motion. The old song caused a little sway in everyone in the room.
  3. countable, uncountable Influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side I doubt I'll hold much sway with someone so powerful.
  4. countable, uncountable Preponderance; turn or cast of balance.
  5. countable, uncountable Rule; dominion; control; power. Prospero:[…]Confederates / (ſo drie he was for Sway) with King of Naples / To giue him Annuall tribute, doe him homage / Subiect his Coronet, to his Crowne and bend / The Dukedom yet vnbow'd (alas poore Millaine) / To moſt ignoble ſtooping.
  6. countable, uncountable A switch or rod used by thatchers to bind their work.
  7. countable, uncountable The maximum amplitude of a vehicle's lateral motion.
  8. countable, uncountable Synonym of sweet flag (“Acorus calamus”)

verb sways · swaying · swayed

  1. intransitive To move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock. sway to the music
  2. transitive To move or wield with the hand; to swing; to wield. to sway the sceptre
  3. transitive 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?
  4. transitive 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
  5. transitive To hoist (a mast or yard) into position. to sway up the yards
  6. 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: […]
  7. To have weight or influence. The example of sundry churches […] doth sway much.
  8. To bear sway; to rule; to govern. Hadst thou swayed as kings should do.

Similar: careen, rock, sway, waver, play

Sway²

Where it comes from

From Old English svieia (“noisy stream”) (see swegan (“to make a noise”)), probably referring to the river Avon.

proper noun

  1. A village and civil parish in New Forest district, Hampshire, England (OS grid ref SZ2798).

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