Swaying

3 definitions found

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

  Sway \Sway\ (sw[=a]), 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.


        [1913 Webster]
  
              As sparkles from the anvil rise,
              When heavy hammers on the wedge are swayed.
                                                    --Spenser.
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     2. To influence or direct by power and authority; by
        persuasion, or by moral force; to rule; to govern; to
        guide.
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              The will of man is by his reason swayed. --Shak.
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              She could not sway her house.         --Shak.
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              This was the race
              To sway the world, and land and sea subdue.
                                                    --Dryden.
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     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.
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              As bowls run true by being made
              On purpose false, and to be swayed.   --Hudibras.
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              Let not temporal and little advantages sway you
              against a more durable interest.      --Tillotson.
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     4. (Naut.) To hoist; as, to sway up the yards.
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     Syn: To bias; rule; govern; direct; influence; swing; move;
          wave; wield.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Swaying \Sway"ing\, n.
     An injury caused by violent strains or by overloading; --
     said of the backs of horses. --Crabb.
     [1913 Webster]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  21 Moby Thesaurus words for "swaying":
     ascendant, careening, dangling, dominant, in ascendancy,
     in the ascendant, lurching, on the throne, pitching, predominant,
     prepollent, preponderant, prepotent, prevailing, reeling, regnant,
     rocking, rolling, ruling, swinging, tossing