swither

verb

swith·er ˈswi-t͟hər

swithered; swithering; swithers

intransitive verb

dialectal, chiefly British

: doubt, waver

swither noun dialectal, chiefly British

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1501, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of swither was in 1501

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

swith

swither

Switz

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Swither.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swither. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

limn

Listen to the pronunciation of limn

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Homophones, Homographs, and Homonyms

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Popular in Wordplay

Top 12 Sophisticated Compliments

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Top 12 Sophisticated Compliments

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE