SWAY

I. noun Etymology: Middle English sweigh, from sweyen Date: 14th century the action or an instance of ~ing or of being ~ed ; an oscillating, fluctuating, or sweeping motion, an inclination or deflection caused by or as if by ~ing, 3. a controlling influence, sovereign power ; dominion , the ability to exercise influence or authority ; dominance , see: power II. verb Etymology: alteration of earlier swey to fall, swoon, from Middle English sweyen, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse sveigja to ~; akin to Lithuanian svaigti to become dizzy Date: circa 1500 intransitive verb 1. to swing slowly and rhythmically back and forth from a base or pivot, to move gently from an upright to a leaning position, to hold ~ ; act as ruler or governor, to fluctuate or veer between one point, position, or opinion and another, transitive verb 1. to cause to ~ ; set to swinging, rocking, or oscillating, to cause to bend downward to one side, to cause to turn aside ; deflect , divert , 2. archaic wield , govern , rule , 3. to cause to vacillate, to exert a guiding or controlling influence on, to hoist in place , see: swing ~er noun