Main Entry: ²sway

Function: verb

Etymology: alteration of earlier swey to fall, swoon, from Middle English sweyen, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse sveigja to sway; akin to Lithuanian svaigti to become dizzy

Date: circa 1500

intransitive verb 1 a : to swing slowly and rhythmically back and forth from a base or pivot b : to move gently from an upright to a leaning position
2 : to hold sway : act as ruler or governor
3 : to fluctuate or veer between one point, position, or opinion and anothertransitive verb 1 a : to cause to sway : set to swinging, rocking, or oscillating b : to cause to bend downward to one side c : to cause to turn aside : deflect, divert
2 archaic a : wield b : govern, rule
3 a : to cause to vacillate b : to exert a guiding or controlling influence on
4 : to hoist in place <sway up a mast>

synonyms see swing, affect

— sway·er noun