■ noun
1》 a weapon with a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard, used for thrusting or striking and often worn as part of ceremonial dress.
↘( the ~ ) literary military power; violence.
2》 ( ~s ) one of the suits in a tarot pack.
Phrases
beat (or turn ) ~s into ploughshares devote resources to peaceful rather than warlike ends. [with biblical allusion to Is. 2:4 and Mic. 4:3.]
put to the ~ kill, especially in war.
Origin
OE sw(e)ord , of Gmc origin.