sway

== English == === Etymology === 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. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /ˈsweɪ̯/ (US, Canada, monophthongization) IPA(key): /ˈswe̞(ː)/ (General Australian) IPA(key): /ˈswæ̝ɪ̯/ Rhymes: -eɪ Hyphenation: sway === Noun === sway (countable and uncountable, plural sways) The act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon. A rocking or swinging motion. Influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side Preponderance; turn or cast of balance. Rule; dominion; control; power. A switch or rod used by thatchers to bind their work. (automotive) The maximum amplitude of a vehicle's lateral motion. Synonym of sweet flag (“Acorus calamus”) ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === sway (third-person singular simple present sways, present participle swaying, simple past and past participle swayed) (intransitive) To move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock. (transitive) To move or wield with the hand; to swing; to wield. (transitive) To influence or direct by power, authority, persuasion, or by moral force; to rule; to govern; to guide. Compare persuade. (transitive) To cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward; to bias; to turn; to bend; to warp. (nautical, transitive) To hoist (a mast or yard) into position. To be drawn to one side by weight or influence; to lean; to incline. To have weight or influence. To bear sway; to rule; to govern. ==== Synonyms ==== ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== persuade === Anagrams === -ways, Yaws, ways, yaws == Gullah == === Alternative forms === sweah === Etymology === From English swear. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /sweː/, /swei/, /swɛː/ === Verb === sway To swear === References === De Nyew Testament‎[5], Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc., 2025 Virginia Mixson Geraty, Gulluh fuh oonuh: Gullah for You (1997)