Main Entry:

swad·dle

Pronunciation:

\ˈswä-d^əl\

Function:

transitive verb

Inflected Form(s):

swad·dled; swad·dling \ˈswäd-liŋ, ˈswä-d^əl-iŋ\

Etymology:

Middle English swadelen, swathelen, probably alteration of swedelen, swethelen, from swethel swaddling band, from Old English; akin to Old English swathian to swathe

Date:

14th century

1 a: to wrap (an infant) with swaddling clothes b: envelop, swathe <legs swaddled in bandages>2: restrain, restrict <marriage…swaddled him in a domesticity he came to loathe — Nina Auerbach>