Swallowing

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Swallow \Swal"low\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Swallowed}; p. pr. &
     vb. n. {Swallowing}.] [OE. swolewen, swolwen, swolhen, AS.
     swelgan; akin to D. zwelgen, OHG. swelahan, swelgan, G.
     schwelgen to feast, to revel, Icel. svelgia to swallow, SW.
     sv[aum]lja, Dan. svaelge. Cf. {Groundsel} a plant.]
     1. To take into the stomach; to receive through the gullet,


        or esophagus, into the stomach; as, to swallow food or
        drink.
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              As if I had swallowed snowballs for pills. --Shak.
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     2. To draw into an abyss or gulf; to ingulf; to absorb --
        usually followed by up. --Milton.
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              The earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up,
              and their houses.                     --Num. xvi.
                                                    32.
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     3. To receive or embrace, as opinions or belief, without
        examination or scruple; to receive implicitly.
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              Though that story . . . be not so readily swallowed.
                                                    --Sir T.
                                                    Browne.
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     4. To engross; to appropriate; -- usually with up.
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              Homer excels . . . in this, that he swallowed up the
              honor of those who succeeded him.     --Pope.
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     5. To occupy; to take up; to employ.
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              The necessary provision of the life swallows the
              greatest part of their time.          --Locke.
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     6. To seize and waste; to exhaust; to consume.
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              Corruption swallowed what the liberal hand
              Of bounty scattered.                  --Thomson.
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     7. To retract; to recant; as, to swallow one's opinions.
        "Swallowed his vows whole." --Shak.
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     8. To put up with; to bear patiently or without retaliation;
        as, to swallow an affront or insult.
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     Syn: To absorb; imbibe; ingulf; engross; consume. See
          {Absorb}.
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