SWORD DEFINITIONS - 16 definitions found
sword n 1: a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard [syn: sword, blade, brand, steel] sword - pavad sword words sword O.E. sweord, from P.Gmc. *swerdan, related to O.H.G. sweran "to hurt," from P.Gmc. *swer- "to cut." Swordfish is first attested c.1400; swordplay is O.E. sweordplege. sword sɔ:d See: AT SWORDS' POINTS, PUT TO THE SWORD. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition (2003) sword noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English, from Old English sweord; akin to Old High German swert sword Date: before 12th century 1. a weapon (as a cutlass or rapier) with a long blade for cutting or thrusting that is often used as a symbol of honor or authority 2. a. an agency or instrument of destruction or combat b. the use of force <the pen is mightier than the sword — E. G. Bulwer-Lytton> 3. coercive power 4. something that resembles a sword • swordlike adjective Oxford English Reference Dictionary
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner\'s English Dictionary sword (swords) 1. A sword is a weapon with a handle and a long sharp blade. N-COUNT 2. If you cross swords with someone, you disagree with them and argue with them about something. ...a candidate who's crossed swords with Labor by supporting the free-trade pact... PHRASE: V inflects, PHR with n, pl-n PHR 3. If you say that something is a double-edged sword or a two-edged sword, you mean that it has negative effects as well as positive effects. PHRASE: N inflects 4. Sword of Damocles: see Damocles English Explanatory Dictionary sword sɔ:d n. 1 a weapon usu. of metal with a long blade and hilt with a handguard, used esp. for thrusting or striking, and often worn as part of ceremonial dress. 2 (prec. by the) a war. b military power. øput to the sword kill, esp. in war. sword-bearer an official carrying the sovereign's etc. sword on a formal occasion. sword dance a dance in which the performers brandish swords or step about swords laid on the ground. sword grass a grass, Scirpus americanus, with swordlike leaves. sword knot a ribbon or tassel attached to a sword-hilt orig. for securing it to the wrist. sword lily = GLADIOLUS. sword of Damocles an imminent danger (from Damokles, flatterer of Dionysius of Syracuse (4th c. BC) made to feast while a sword hung by a hair over him). the sword of justice judicial authority. Sword of State a sword borne before the sovereign on State occasions. sword-swallower a person ostensibly or actually swallowing sword blades as entertainment. øøswordlike adj. [OE sw(e)ord f. Gmc] Handy Dictionary of Poetical Quotations Sword Full bravely hast thou fleshed Thy maiden sword. SHAKESPEARE: 1 Henry IV., Act v., Sc. 4. Chase brave employment with a naked sword Throughout the world. HERBERT: The Church Porch. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) Sword \Sword\, n. [OE. swerd, AS. sweord; akin to OFries. swerd, swird, D. zwaard, OS. swerd, OHG. swert, G. schwert, Icel. sver?, Sw. sv["a]rd, Dan. sv[ae]rd; of uncertain origin.] 1. An offensive weapon, having a long and usually sharp?pointed blade with a cutting edge or edges. It is the general term, including the small sword, rapier, saber, scimiter, and many other varieties. 2. Hence, the emblem of judicial vengeance or punishment, or of authority and power. He [the ruler] beareth not the sword in vain. --Rom. xiii. 4. She quits the balance, and resigns the sword. --Dryden. 3. Destruction by the sword, or in battle; war; dissension. I came not to send peace, but a sword. --Matt. x. 34. 4. The military power of a country. He hath no more authority over the sword than over the law. --Milton. 5. (Weaving) One of the end bars by which the lay of a hand loom is suspended. Sword arm, the right arm. Sword bayonet, a bayonet shaped somewhat like a sword, and which can be used as a sword. Sword bearer, one who carries his master's sword; an officer in London who carries a sword before the lord mayor when he goes abroad. Sword belt, a belt by which a sword is suspended, and borne at the side. Sword blade, the blade, or cutting part, of a sword. Sword cane, a cane which conceals the blade of a sword or dagger, as in a sheath. Sword dance. (a) A dance in which swords are brandished and clashed together by the male dancers. --Sir W. Scott. (b) A dance performed over swords laid on the ground, but without touching them. Sword fight, fencing; a combat or trial of skill with swords; swordplay. Sword grass. (Bot.) See Gladen. Sword knot, a ribbon tied to the hilt of a sword. Sword law, government by the sword, or by force; violence. --Milton. Sword lily. (Bot.) See Gladiolus. Sword mat (Naut.), a mat closely woven of yarns; -- so called from a wooden implement used in its manufacture. Sword shrimp (Zo["o]l.), a European shrimp ({Pasiph[ae]a sivado}) having a very thin, compressed body. Sword stick, a sword cane. To measure swords with one. See under Measure, v. t. To put to the sword. See under Put. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia SWORD sord. See ARMOR, III, 5. Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary Sword of the Hebrew was pointed, sometimes two-edged, was worn in a sheath, and suspended from the girdle (Ex. 32:27; 1 Sam. 31:4; 1 Chr. 21:27; Ps. 149:6: Prov. 5:4; Ezek. 16:40; 21:3-5). It is a symbol of divine chastisement (Deut. 32:25; Ps. 7:12; 78:62), and of a slanderous tongue (Ps. 57:4; 64:3; Prov. 12:18). The word of God is likened also to a sword (Heb. 4:12; Eph. 6:17; Rev. 1:16). Gideon's watchword was, "The sword of the Lord" (Judg. 7:20). Soule\'s Dictionary of English Synonyms sword n. 1. Sabre, broadsword, cutlass, falchion, cimeter, rapier, claymore, hanger, steel, brand, bilbo, skean, Toledo, tuck. 2. Emblem of vengeance, emblem of justice. 3. Destruction by the sword. 4. Military power. 5. War, strife, dissension. Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 84 Moby Thesaurus words for "sword": Excalibur, ax, battler, belligerent, belted knight, bickerer, bilbo, blade, bravo, brawler, broadsword, bully, bullyboy, claymore, cold steel, combatant, competitor, contender, contestant, cutlass, cutlery, cutter, dagger, disputant, duelist, edge tools, enforcer, epee, falchion, fencer, feuder, fighter, fighting cock, foil, foilsman, gamecock, gladiator, glaive, goon, gorilla, hatchet man, hood, hoodlum, hooligan, jouster, knife, knight, militant, naked steel, pigsticker, plug-ugly, point, puncturer, quarreler, rapier, rioter, rival, rough, rowdy, ruffian, saber, sabreur, scimitar, scrapper, scuffler, sharpener, squabbler, steel, strong arm, strong-arm man, strong-armer, struggler, swashbuckler, swordplayer, swordsman, thug, tilter, toad sticker, tough, trusty sword, tuck, tussler, whittle, wrangler |
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