once upon a time dueling with swords was the gentlemanly way to settle a point of honor
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The Russian leader has repeatedly brandished the nuclear sword after sending troops into Ukraine in February 2022 to try to deter the West from ramping up support for Ukraine.—Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026 Their long sword-like foliage thrives through the heat of summer and takes on gorgeous pink hues as winter weather sets in.—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 10 May 2026 This suggests that the man who wore it had fought many battles or, at the very least, carried the sword publicly as a display of his status or achievements, according to Popsci.—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 10 May 2026 In Boston, on the same weekend, officers shot and killed a man in the Fenway neighborhood after police say the man attacked first responders with a sword.—Louisa Moller, CBS News, 9 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for sword
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English sweord; akin to Old High German swert sword
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of sword was
before the 12th century