[sawrd, sohrd] 
| 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. |
| sword (sôrd) n.
[Middle English, from Old English sweord.] |
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).
sword
In addition to the idiom beginning with sword, also see at sword's point; cross swords.