Swelt, swelt, v.i. (Spens.) to swelter.
Swelter, swelt′ėr, v.i. to be faint or oppressed with heat: to perspire copiously from heat.—v.t. to cause to faint, to overpower, as with heat.—p.adj. Swelt′ering.—adv. Swelt′eringly.—adj. Swelt′ry, sultry, oppressive with heat. [A.S. sweltan, to die; Ice. svelta, to hunger.]
Swept, swept, pa.t. and pa.p. of sweep.
Swerve, swėrv, v.i. to turn, depart from any line, duty, or custom: to incline: to rove, wander.—n. an act of swerving.—adj. Swerve′less, that does not swerve.—n. Swerv′er, one who swerves. [A.S. sweorfan; Dut. zwerven.]
Sweven, swē′vn, n. (obs.) a dream.—v.t. and v.i. to sleep, dream. [A.S. swefen, sleep, dream.]
Swift, swift, adj. moving quickly: fleet, rapid: speedy: ready.—n. a genus (Cypselus) and family (Cypselidæ) of picarian birds, resembling the swallows in general appearance and habits, but most closely allied by anatomical structure to the humming-birds—with long pointed wings, a short tail, and remarkable powers of rapid and prolonged flight: the common newt: a reel for winding yarn: the main cylinder of a carding-machine: the current of a stream.—n. Swif′ter, any rope temporarily used to tighten or keep a thing in its place.—adjs. Swift′-foot′ed; Swift′-hand′ed; Swift′-heeled.—adv. Swift′ly, with swiftness: rapidly.—n. Swift′ness, quality of being swift: quickness: fleetness: rapidity: speed.—adj. Swift′-winged. [A.S. swift, from same root as swoop.]
Swig, swig, n. a pulley with ropes not parallel.—v.t. to tighten a rope by hauling at right angles to its lead: to castrate by ligating the scrotum and making the testicles slough off. [Prob. swag.]
Swig, swig, n. a large draught: one who drinks deep.—v.t. to drink by large draughts, to gulp down. [Prob. conn. with A.S. swelgan, to swallow.]
Swill, swil, v.t. or v.i. to drink greedily or largely, to drink habitually, to drench one's self with: to wash, rinse.—n. a large draught of liquor: the liquid mixture given to swine.—ns. Swill′er; Swill′ing.—n.pl. Swill′ings, hog wash. [A.S. swilian, to wash; cf. Sw. sqvala, to gush.]
Swim, swim, v.i. to float, as opposed to sink: to move on or in water: to be borne along by a current: to glide along with a waving motion: to be dizzy: to be drenched: to overflow: to abound.—v.t. to pass by swimming: to make to swim or float:—pr.p. swim′ming; pa.t. swam; pa.p. swum or swam.—n. act of swimming: any motion like swimming: air-bladder of a fish.—adj. Swim′mable, capable of being swum.—ns. Swim′mer, one who swims: a web-footed aquatic bird; Swim′meret, one of the abdominal appendages which in the lobster and other Crustacea are used in swimming; Swim′ming, the act of floating or moving on or in the water: dizziness; Swim′ming-bath, a bath large enough for swimming in.—adv. Swim′mingly, in a gliding manner, as if swimming: smoothly, successfully.—ns. Swim′mingness, the state of swimming: a melting look, tearfulness; Swim′ming-pond, an artificial pond adapted for swimming in; Swim′ming-school, a place where swimming is taught; Swim′ming-stone, a cellular variety of flint—float-stone.—In the swim, in the main current, of affairs, business, &c. [A.S. swimman; Ger. schwimmen.]