Part 1035

When vice prevails, and impious men bear sway, The post of honor is a private station.

Addison.

5. A switch or rod used by thatchers to bind their work. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Syn. -- Rule; dominion; power; empire; control; influence; direction; preponderance; ascendency.

Sway"-backed` (?), a. Having the back hollow or sagged, whether naturally or as the result of injury or weakness; -- said of horses and other animals.

Sway"-bra`cing (?), n. (Engin.) The horizontal bracing of a bridge, which prevents its swaying.

Swayed (?), a. Bent down, and hollow in the back; sway-backed; -- said of a horse. Shak.

Sway"ful (?), a. Able to sway. [R.] Rush.

Sway"ing, n. An injury caused by violent strains or by overloading; -- said of the backs of horses. Crabb.

Sweal (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Swealed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Swealing.] [OE. swelen to burn, AS. swelan; akin to G. schwelen to burn slowly, schwül sultry, Icel. svæla a thick smoke.] To melt and run down, as the tallow of a candle; to waste away without feeding the flame. [Written also swale.] Sir W. Scott.

Sweal, v. t. To singe; to scorch; to swale; as, to sweal a pig by singeing off the hair.

Swear (?), v. i. [imp. Swore (?), formerly Sware (&?;); p. p. Sworn (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Swearing.] [OE. swerien, AS. swerian; akin to D. zweren, OS. swerian, OHG. swerien, G. schwören, Icel. sverja, Sw. svärja, Dan. sværge, Icel. & Sw. svara to answer, Dan. svare, Dan. & Sw. svar an answer, Goth. swaran to swear, and perhaps to E. swarm. √177. Cf. Answer.] 1. To affirm or utter a solemn declaration, with an appeal to God for the truth of what is affirmed; to make a promise, threat, or resolve on oath; also, to affirm solemnly by some sacred object, or one regarded as sacred, as the Bible, the Koran, etc.

Ye shall swear by my name falsely.

Lev. xix. 12.

I swear by all the Roman gods.

Shak.

2. (Law) To give evidence on oath; as, to swear to the truth of a statement; he swore against the prisoner.

3. To make an appeal to God in an irreverant manner; to use the name of God or sacred things profanely; to call upon God in imprecation; to curse.

swore little; diced not above seven times a week.

Shak.

To swear by, to place great confidence in a person or thing; to trust implicitly as an authority. "I simply meant to ask if you are one of those who swear by Lord Verulam." Miss Edgeworth. -- To swear off, to make a solemn vow, or a serious resolution, to abstain from something; as, to swear off smoking. [Slang]

Swear, v. t. 1. To utter or affirm with a solemn appeal to God for the truth of the declaration; to make (a promise, threat, or resolve) under oath.

Swear unto me here by God, that thou wilt not deal falsely with me.

Gen. xxi. 23.

He swore consent to your succession.

Shak.

2. (Law) To put to an oath; to cause to take an oath; to administer an oath to; -- ofetn followed by in or into; as, to swear witnesses; to swear a jury; to swear in an officer; he was sworn into office.

3. To declare or charge upon oath; as, he swore treason against his friend. Johnson.