Part 1033

Swat (swt), obs. imp. of Sweat. Chaucer.

Swatch (?), n. 1. A swath. [Obs.] Tusser.

2. A piece, pattern, or sample, generally of cloth. Halliwell. Jamieson.

Swate (swt), obs. imp. of Sweat. Thomson.

Swath (swth; 277), n. [AS. swaðu a track, trace; akin to D. zwaad, zwad, zwade, a swath of grass, G. schwad, schwaden; perhaps, originally, a shred. Cf. Swathe, v. t.] 1. A line of grass or grain cut and thrown together by the scythe in mowing or cradling.

2. The whole sweep of a scythe, or the whole breadth from which grass or grain is cut by a scythe or a machine, in mowing or cradling; as, to cut a wide swath.

3. A band or fillet; a swathe. Shak.

Swath bank, a row of new-mown grass. [Prov. Eng.]

Swathe (sw), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Swathed (swd); p. pr. & vb. n. Swathing.] [OE. swathen, AS. sweðain. See Swath, n., and cf. Swaddle.] To bind with a swathe, band, bandage, or rollers.

Their children are never swathed or bound about with any thing when they are first born.

Abp. Abbot.

Swathe, n. A bandage; a band; a swath.

Wrapped me in above an hundred yards of swathe.

Addison.

Milk and a swathe, at first, his whole demand.

Young.

The solemn glory of the afternoon, with its long swathes of light between the far off rows of limes.

G. Eliot.

Swath"er (?), n. [See Swath, n.] (Agric.) A device attached to a mowing machine for raising the uncut fallen grain and marking the limit of the swath.

Swat"te (?), obs. imp. of Sweat. Chaucer.

Sway (?), 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.

As sparkles from the anvil rise, When heavy hammers on the wedge are swayed.

Spenser.

2. To influence or direct by power and authority; by persuasion, or by moral force; to rule; to govern; to guide.

The will of man is by his reason swayed.

Shak.

She could not sway her house.

Shak.