SWALLOW Swal"low, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Swallowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Swallowing.] Etym: [OE. swolewen, swolwen, swolhen, AS. swelgan; akin to D. zwelgen, OHG. swelahan, swelgan, G. schwelgen to feast, to revel, Icel. svelgia to swallow, SW. svälja, Dan. svælge. Cf. Groundsel a plant.]
1. To take into the stomach; to receive through the gullet, or esophagus, into the stomach; as, to swallow food or drink. As if I had swallowed snowballs for pills. Shak.
2. To draw into an abyss or gulf; to ingulf; to absorb — usually
followed by up. Milton.
The earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses.
Num. xvi. 32.
3. To receive or embrace, as opinions or belief, without examination or scruple; to receive implicitly. Though that story . . . be not so readily swallowed. Sir T. Browne.
4. To engross; to appropriate; — usually with up. Homer excels . . . in this, that he swallowed up the honor of those who succeeded him. Pope.
5. To occupy; to take up; to employ. The necessary provision of the life swallows the greatest part of their time. Locke.
6. To seize and waste; to exhaust; to consume. Corruption swallowed what the liberal hand Of bounty scattered. Thomson.
7. To retract; to recant; as, to swallow one's opinions. "Swallowed his vows whole." Shak.
8. To put up with; to bear patiently or without retaliation; as, to swallow an affront or insult.
Syn.
— To absorb; imbibe; ingulf; engross; consume. See Absorb.