swarthy

[ swawr-thee, -thee ]
See synonyms for swarthy on Thesaurus.com
adjective,swarth·i·er, swarth·i·est.
  1. (of skin color, complexion, etc.) dark.

Origin of swarthy

1
First recorded in 1570–80; unexplained variant of obsolete swarty (swart + -y1)

Other words from swarthy

  • swarth·i·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use swarthy in a sentence

  • "Now, you Mexicans lay your rifles down on the floor," Hal continued, turning to the swarthier men.

  • Of a sudden his dark face grew swarthier still, his voice lapsed from its customary impersonal.

    Ben Blair | Will Lillibridge
  • These men were much shorter than the Iceni, they were swarthier in complexion, and their hair was long and matted.

    Beric the Briton | G. A. Henty
  • "To say the truth," said the young man, while a swarthier glow crossed his dark features.

    The Cock and Anchor | Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
  • Each time she bent over the bassinet the little face inside looked to her swarthier and more grotesque.

    The Quaint Companions | Leonard Merrick

British Dictionary definitions for swarthy

swarthy

/ (ˈswɔːðɪ) /


adjectiveswarthier or swarthiest
  1. dark-hued or dark-complexioned

Origin of swarthy

1
C16: from obsolete swarty, from swart + -y 1

Derived forms of swarthy

  • swarthily, adverb
  • swarthiness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012