I. ˈswā verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: alteration (probably influenced by Middle Low German swāien to sway) of earlier swey to fall, go down, swoon, from Middle English sweyen, sweghen to go down, swoon, go, move, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse sveigja to bow, bend, sway, sveigr switch (flexible twig), svigna to bend, give way; akin to Middle Low German swāien to sway, Old English swathian to swathe — more at swathe
intransitive verb
1.
a.
(1) : to move or become moved in usually slow and rhythmic back and forth oscillations : swing especially with suppleness or grace from or as if from a base or pivot
singing to us, swaying to the rhythm — O.S.J.Gogarty
the redbird … lit on a tall white iris, making it sway gently — Clarissa F. Cushman
(2) : to move forward while swaying from side to side
caravans of camels, swaying with their padded feet across the desert — L.P.Smith
b.
(1) : to become rocked by weight, pressure, or applied force especially into a permanent new position
the earthquake caused the wall to sway to the right
(2) : to move gently from an upright to a leaning position
swayed over and actually leaned his head on her shoulder — Joseph Conrad
2.
a. : to hold sway : act as ruler or governor
b. : to be a deciding or prevailing influence
distinguish what motive actually swayed with him — Abraham Tucker
3.
a. : to approach with hostile intentions
b. obsolete : to move in a specified direction
4. : to alternate regularly between one point, position, or opinion and another
the battle has swayed backwards and forwards with incredible fury — Sir Winston Churchill
the industry continues to sway between extravagancy and bankruptcy — Andrew Buchanan
transitive verb
1.
a. : to cause to sway : set to swinging, rocking, nodding, oscillating, or vacillating
swayed her head from side to side with worry — Winifred Bambrick
b. : to cause to bend downward to one side
the pillars were swayed three inches by the blast
c. : to cause to turn aside : deflect , divert
d. : to hoist or erect especially by throwing the weight of the body on a halyard or other rope — often used with up
swayed up her topmast — Kenneth Roberts
2.
a.
(1) : to be the legitimate wielder of (a symbol of authority)
reign … true heir, and his full scepter sway — John Milton
(2) : to possess or exercise authority, control, guidance, or sovereignty over : govern , rule
with a bloody hand he sways a nation — Lord Byron
b. archaic : to make use of (an implement) ; also : to play upon (an instrument)
3.
a. : to cause (as a person or his opinions) to vacillate
b. : to exert a guiding or controlling influence upon : determine or help to determine a course of action, viewpoint, or decision of (as a person) or the manner or direction of (as a course of action)
man's reason is imperfect, and may be swayed by his physical and social environment — Herbert Agar
many men are swayed by nicknames and catchwords — A.W.Long
a presidential aspirant should be able to sway vast audiences with his eloquence — V.L.Albjerg
c. : to deflect from an accustomed or chosen object
a determination from which he could not be swayed — T.B.Costain
Synonyms: see affect , swing
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: alteration (influenced by sway ) (I) of Middle English sweyh, sweigh, from sweyen, sweghen to swoon, go, move
1.
a. obsolete : a rotating motion about an axis
b.
(1) : the action or an instance of swaying or of being swayed : an oscillating, fluctuating, swinging, nodding, or sweeping motion
an easy sway to the lurch of the ship — F.W.Crofts
(2) : the sweep, force, or momentum of something swaying or being swayed
the sway of battle — John Milton
(3) : an inclination or deflection caused by or as if by swaying
2.
a. : a preponderating force or pressure : a controlling influence
the personal element … should have little … sway in determining the limits of legislative power — B.N.Cardozo
scientists … under the sway of a naturalistic optimism — W.R.Inge
b. : sovereign power : dominion , rule
the endeavor of the civil regime to extend its sway to these islands — V.G.Heiser
breaking down the sway of the hereditary chiefs — Tom Marvel
the region was under the sway of great empires — David Mitrany
c. : the ability to exercise influence or authority or apply preponderating pressure : dominance
classicism with its stateliness and promise of stability held sway — Carl Bridenbaugh
the idea once held sway that the floor of the sea … was without life — R.E.Coker
3. : grace of form, figure, carriage, or action
his presence and social sway — E.H.Collis
Synonyms: see power