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sword - 6 dictionary results
sword
[sawrd, sohrd] 
–noun
—Idioms| 1. | a weapon having various forms but consisting typically of a long, straight or slightly curved blade, sharp-edged on one or both sides, with one end pointed and the other fixed in a hilt or handle. |
| 2. | this weapon as the symbol of military power, punitive justice, authority, etc.: The pen is mightier than the sword. |
| 3. | a cause of death or destruction. |
| 4. | war, combat, slaughter, or violence, esp. military force or aggression: to perish by the sword. |
| 5. | (initial capital letter ) Military. the code name for one of the five D-Day invasion beaches on France's Normandy coast, assaulted by British forces. |
| 6. | at swords' points, mutually antagonistic or hostile; opposed: Father and son are constantly at swords' point. |
| 7. | cross swords,
|
| 8. | put to the sword, to slay; execute: The entire population of the town was put to the sword. |
Origin:
bef. 900; ME; OE sweord; c. D zwaard, G Schwert, ON sverth
bef. 900; ME; OE sweord; c. D zwaard, G Schwert, ON sverth
Related forms:
swordless, adjective
swordlike, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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|
Link To sword
| sword (sôrd) n.
[Middle English, from Old English sweord.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Sword
Sword\, n. [OE. swerd, AS. sweord; akin to OFries. swerd, swird, D. zwaard, OS. swerd, OHG. swert, G. schwert, Icel. sver?, Sw. sv["a]rd, Dan. sv[ae]rd; of uncertain origin.]1. An offensive weapon, having a long and usually sharp?pointed blade with a cutting edge or edges. It is the general term, including the small sword, rapier, saber, scimiter, and many other varieties. 2. Hence, the emblem of judicial vengeance or punishment, or of authority and power. He [the ruler] beareth not the sword in vain. --Rom. xiii. 4. She quits the balance, and resigns the sword. --Dryden. 3. Destruction by the sword, or in battle; war; dissension. I came not to send peace, but a sword. --Matt. x. 34. 4. The military power of a country. He hath no more authority over the sword than over the law. --Milton. 5. (Weaving) One of the end bars by which the lay of a hand loom is suspended. Sword arm, the right arm. Sword bayonet, a bayonet shaped somewhat like a sword, and which can be used as a sword. Sword bearer, one who carries his master's sword; an officer in London who carries a sword before the lord mayor when he goes abroad. Sword belt, a belt by which a sword is suspended, and borne at the side. Sword blade, the blade, or cutting part, of a sword. Sword cane, a cane which conceals the blade of a sword or dagger, as in a sheath. Sword dance. (a) A dance in which swords are brandished and clashed together by the male dancers. --Sir W. Scott. (b) A dance performed over swords laid on the ground, but without touching them. Sword fight, fencing; a combat or trial of skill with swords; swordplay. Sword grass. (Bot.) See Gladen. Sword knot, a ribbon tied to the hilt of a sword. Sword law, government by the sword, or by force; violence. --Milton. Sword lily. (Bot.) See Gladiolus. Sword mat (Naut.), a mat closely woven of yarns; -- so called from a wooden implement used in its manufacture. Sword shrimp (Zo["o]l.), a European shrimp (Pasiph[ae]a sivado) having a very thin, compressed body. Sword stick, a sword cane. To measure swords with one. See under Measure, v. t. To put to the sword. See under Put.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : sword
Spanish:
espada,
German:
das Schwert,
Japanese:
剣
sword
O.E. sweord, from P.Gmc. *swerdan (cf. O.S., O.Fris. swerd, O.N. sverð, Swed. svärd, M.Du. swaert, Du. zwaard, O.H.G. swert, Ger. Schwert), related to O.H.G. sweran "to hurt," from *swertha-, lit. "the cutting weapon," from PIE base *swer- "to cut." Contrast with plowshare is from the O.T. (e.g. Isaiah ii.4, Micah iv.3). Swordfish is first attested c.1400; swordplay is O.E. sweordplege. Phrase put (originally do) to the sword "kill, slaughter" is recorded from 1338.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Sword
of the Hebrew was pointed, sometimes two-edged, was worn in a sheath, and suspended from the girdle (Ex. 32:27; 1 Sam. 31:4; 1 Chr. 21:27; Ps. 149:6: Prov. 5:4; Ezek. 16:40; 21:3-5). It is a symbol of divine chastisement (Deut. 32:25; Ps. 7:12; 78:62), and of a slanderous tongue (Ps. 57:4; 64:3; Prov. 12:18). The word of God is likened also to a sword (Heb. 4:12; Eph. 6:17; Rev. 1:16). Gideon's watchword was, "The sword of the Lord" (Judg. 7:20).
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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sword
In addition to the idiom beginning with sword, also see at sword's point; cross swords.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2009, Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
