sway

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)
• COUNT in NET: 5 in 5 verses (in OT : 5 in 5 verses)

CIDE DICTIONARY

sway, v. t. [OE. sweyen, Icel. sveigja, akin to E. swing; cf. D. zwaaijen to wield, swing. See Swing, and cf. Swag, v. i.].

•  To move or wield with the hand; to swing; to wield; as, to sway the scepter.  [1913 Webster]

  "As sparkles from the anvil rise,
  When heavy hammers on the wedge are swayed."  [1913 Webster]
•  To influence or direct by power and authority; by persuasion, or by moral force; to rule; to govern; to guide.  [1913 Webster]

  "The will of man is by his reason swayed."  [1913 Webster]

  "She could not sway her house."  [1913 Webster]

  "This was the race
  To sway the world, and land and sea subdue."  [1913 Webster]
•  To cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward; to bias; to turn; to bend; warp; as, reeds swayed by wind; judgment swayed by passion.  [1913 Webster]

  "As bowls run true by being made
  On purpose false, and to be swayed."  [1913 Webster]

  "Let not temporal and little advantages sway you against a more durable interest."  [1913 Webster]
•  To hoist; as, to sway up the yards.  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- To bias; rule; govern; direct; influence; swing; move; wave; wield.

sway, v. i. 

•  To be drawn to one side by weight or influence; to lean; to incline.  [1913 Webster]

  "The balance sways on our part."  [1913 Webster]
•  To move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward.  [1913 Webster]
•  To have weight or influence.  [1913 Webster]

  "The example of sundry churches . . . doth sway much."  [1913 Webster]
•  To bear sway; to rule; to govern.  [1913 Webster]

  "Hadst thou swayed as kings should do."  [1913 Webster]

sway, n. 

•  The act of swaying; a swaying motion; the swing or sweep of a weapon.  [1913 Webster]

  "With huge two-handed sway brandished aloft."  [1913 Webster]
•  Influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side; as, the sway of desires.  A. Tucker.  [1913 Webster]
•  Preponderance; turn or cast of balance.  [1913 Webster]

  "Expert
  When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway
  Of battle."  [1913 Webster]
•  Rule; dominion; control.  Cowper.  [1913 Webster]

  "When vice prevails, and impious men bear sway,
  The post of honor is a private station."  [1913 Webster]
•  A switch or rod used by thatchers to bind their work.  Halliwell.  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- Rule; dominion; power; empire; control; influence; direction; preponderance; ascendency.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

sway, v. & n.
--v.
1 intr. & tr. lean or cause to lean unsteadily in different directions alternately.
2 intr. oscillate irregularly; waver.
3 tr. a control the motion or direction of. b have influence or rule over.
--n.
1 rule, influence, or government (hold sway).
2 a swaying motion or position.

Idiom

sway-back an abnormally hollowed back (esp. of a horse); lordosis. sway-backed (esp. of a horse) having a sway-back.

Etymology

ME: cf. LG swajen be blown to and fro, Du. zwaaien swing, wave

THESAURUS

sway

acme, administration, affect, alternate, amplitude, angle, angle off, angularity, argue into, ascend, ascendancy, authority, authorization, back and fill, bank, be-all and end-all, bear off, bear reign, bend, bias, blue ribbon, blunder, bob, bobble, break down, bring, bring over, bring round, bring to reason, cant, captivate, careen, career, carry, cave in, championship, charisma, charm, civil government, claws, climb, clout, clutches, coggle, collapse, color, command, con, conduct, consequence, control, convince, credit, crook, dangle, decide, decline, deflect, descend, determine, deviate, dip, direct, direction, directorship, discipline, dispensation, dispose, disposition, distort, divagate, diverge, divert, dominance, domination, dominion, draw over, drop, ebb and flow, effect, effectiveness, eminence, empery, empire, enchantment, engage, enlist, esteem, expanse, fall, fall away, fall in, fall off, falter, favor, first place, first prize, flounce, flounder, fluctuate, flutter, force, form of government, founder, gain, gain over, get, get to do, go downhill, go through phases, go uphill, good feeling, govern, governance, government, grade, grasp, grip, hand, hands, headship, heave, hegemony, height, highest, hobbyhorse, hold, hook, hook in, imperium, importance, impress, incidental power, inclination, incline, induce, influence, influentiality, insinuation, inspire, interest in, iron hand, jaundice, jurisdiction, keel, kingship, labor, lead, leadership, lean, leaning, leaning tower, leverage, librate, libration, list, lordship, lurch, lure, magnetism, make heavy weather, manage, management, mastership, mastery, maximum, might, moment, most, move, ne plus ultra, new high, nutate, oblique, oscillate, outtalk, overrule, oversight, palms, paramountcy, pendulate, personality, persuade, persuasion, pitch, pitch and plunge, pitch and toss, plunge, political organization, polity, potency, pound, power, predispose, predominance, prejudice, prejudice against, prejudice the issue, preponderance, prepossess, presidency, pressure, prestige, prevail on, prevail upon, prevail with, primacy, procure, prompt, purchase, raj, rake, range, reach, rear, record, reel, regime, regimen, regnancy, regulation, reign, repute, resonate, retreat, ring the changes, rise, rock, roll, rule, rule over, say, scend, scope, seesaw, seethe, sell, sell one on, shake, sheer, shelve, shift, shuffle, sidle, skew, slant, slope, slue, soften up, sovereignty, spread, stagger, stretch, strike, strings, struggle, stumble, suasion, subtle influence, suggestion, supervision, supremacy, swag, sweep, swerve, swing, swinging, system of government, talk into, talk over, talons, teeter, teeter-totter, tempt, tend, thrash about, tilt, tinge, tip, tone, top spot, topple, topple down, topple over, toss, toss and tumble, toss and turn, totter, touch, tower of Pisa, tumble, turn, twist, undulate, upper hand, uprise, vacillate, vary, veer, vibrate, volutation, wag, waggle, wallop, wallow, wangle, wangle into, warp, wave, waver, wax and wane, wear down, wear the crown, weave, weigh with, weight, welter, whip hand, wield the scepter, win, win over, wobble, work, yaw, zenith

ROGET THESAURUS

sway

Motive

VB induce, move, draw, draw on, bring in its train, give an impulse, to, inspire, put up to, prompt, call up, attract, beckon, stimulate, spirit up, inspirit, rouse, arouse, animate, incite, foment, provoke, instigate, set on, actuate, act upon, work upon, operate upon, encourage, pat on the back, pat on the shoulder, clap on the back, clap on the shoulder, influence, weigh with, bias, sway, incline, dispose, predispose, turn the scale, inoculate, lead by the nose, have influence with, have influence over, have influence upon, exercise influence with, exercise influence over, exercise influence upon, go round, come round one, turn the head, magnetize, lobby, persuade, prevail with, prevail upon, overcome, carry, bring round to one's senses, bring to one's senses, draw over, win over, gain over, come over, talk over, procure, enlist, engage, invite, court, tempt, seduce, overpersuade, entice, allure, captivate, fascinate, bewitch, carry away, charm, conciliate, wheedle, coax, lure, inveigle, tantalize, cajole, tamper with, bribe, suborn, grease the palm, bait with a silver hook, gild the pill, make things pleasant, put a sop into the pan, throw a sop to, bait the hook, enforce, force, impel, propel, whip, lash, goad, spur, prick, urge, egg on, hound, hurry on, drag, exhort, advise, call upon, press, advocate, set an example, set the fashion, keep in countenance, be persuaded, yield to temptation, come round, concede, obey a call, follow advice, follow the bent, follow the dictates of, act on principle.

Government

N government, legal authority, soveriegn, sovereign authority, authority, master, direction, national government, nation, state, country, nation- state, dominion, republic, empire, union, democratic republic, kingdom, principality, state government, state, shire, province, county, canton, territory, duchy, archduchy, archdukedom, woiwodshaft, commonwealth, region, property, county, parish city, domain, tract, arrondissement, mofussil, commune, wappentake, hundred, riding, lathe, garth, soke, tithing, ward, precinct, bailiwick, command, empire, sway, rule, dominion, domination, sovereignty, supremacy, suzerainty, lordship, headship, chiefdom, seigniory, seigniority, rule, sway, command, control, administer, govern, lead, preside over, reign, possess the throne, be seated on the throne, occupy the throne, sway the scepter, wield the scepter, wear the crown, state, realm, body politic, posse comitatus, judicature, cabinet, seat of government, seat of authority, headquarters, accession, installation, politics, reign, regime, dynasty, directorship, dictatorship, protectorate, protectorship, caliphate, pashalic, electorate, presidency, presidentship, administration, proconsul, consulship, prefecture, seneschalship, magistrature, magistracy, monarchy, kinghood, kingship, royalty, regality, aristarchy, aristocracy, oligarchy, democracy, theocracy, demagogy, commonwealth, dominion, heteronomy, republic, republicanism, socialism, collectivism, mob law, mobocracy, ochlocracy, vox populi, imperium in imperio, bureaucracy, beadledom, bumbledom, stratocracy, military power, military government, junta, feodality, feudal system, feudalism, thearchy, theocracy, dinarchy, duarchy, triarchy, heterarchy, duumvirate, triumvirate, autocracy, autonomy, limited monarchy, constitutional government, constitutional monarchy, home rule, representative government, monocracy, pantisocracy, gynarchy, gynocracy, gynaeocracy, petticoat government, legislature, judiciary, administration, office of the president, office of the prime minister, cabinet, senate, house of representatives, parliament, council, courts, supreme court, state, interior, labor, health and human services, defense, education, agriculture, justice, commerce, treasury, Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, National Institutes of Health, NIH, Postal Service, Post Office, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, president, vice president, cabinet member, prime minister, minister, senator, representatative, president pro tem, speaker of the house, department head, section head, section chief, federal judge, justice, justice of the supreme court, chief justice, treasurer, secretary of the treasury, director of the FBI, governor, state cabinet member, state senator, assemblyman, assemblywoman, regal, sovereign, governing, royal, royalist, monarchical, kingly, imperial, imperiatorial, princely, feudal, aristocratic, autocratic, oligarchic, republican, dynastic, ruling, regnant, gubernatorial, imperious, authoritative, executive, administrative, clothed with authority, official, departmental, ex officio, imperative, peremptory, overruling, absolute, hegemonic, hegemonical, authorized, government, public, national, federal, his majesty's, her majesty's, state, county, city, N, a dog's obeyed in office, cada uno tiene su alguazil, le Roi le veut, regibus esse manus en nescio longas, regnant populi, the demigod Authority, the right divine of kings to govern wrong, uneasy lies the head that wears a crown, government, legal authority, soveriegn, sovereign authority, authority, master, direction, national government, nation, state, country, nation- state, dominion, republic, empire, union, democratic republic, kingdom, principality, state government, state, shire, province, county, canton, territory, duchy, archduchy, archdukedom, woiwodshaft, commonwealth, region, property, county, parish city, domain, tract, arrondissement, mofussil, commune, wappentake, hundred, riding, lathe, garth, soke, tithing, ward, precinct, bailiwick, command, empire, sway, rule, dominion, domination, sovereignty, supremacy, suzerainty, lordship, headship, chiefdom, seigniory, seigniority, rule, sway, command, control, administer, govern, lead, preside over, reign, possess the throne, be seated on the throne, occupy the throne, sway the scepter, wield the scepter, wear the crown, state, realm, body politic, posse comitatus, judicature, cabinet, seat of government, seat of authority, headquarters, accession, installation, politics, reign, regime, dynasty, directorship, dictatorship, protectorate, protectorship, caliphate, pashalic, electorate, presidency, presidentship, administration, proconsul, consulship, prefecture, seneschalship, magistrature, magistracy, monarchy, kinghood, kingship, royalty, regality, aristarchy, aristocracy, oligarchy, democracy, theocracy, demagogy, commonwealth, dominion, heteronomy, republic, republicanism, socialism, collectivism, mob law, mobocracy, ochlocracy, vox populi, imperium in imperio, bureaucracy, beadledom, bumbledom, stratocracy, military power, military government, junta, feodality, feudal system, feudalism, thearchy, theocracy, dinarchy, duarchy, triarchy, heterarchy, duumvirate, triumvirate, autocracy, autonomy, limited monarchy, constitutional government, constitutional monarchy, home rule, representative government, monocracy, pantisocracy, gynarchy, gynocracy, gynaeocracy, petticoat government, legislature, judiciary, administration, office of the president, office of the prime minister, cabinet, senate, house of representatives, parliament, council, courts, supreme court, state, interior, labor, health and human services, defense, education, agriculture, justice, commerce, treasury, Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, National Institutes of Health, NIH, Postal Service, Post Office, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, president, vice president, cabinet member, prime minister, minister, senator, representatative, president pro tem, speaker of the house, department head, section head, section chief, federal judge, justice, justice of the supreme court, chief justice, treasurer, secretary of the treasury, director of the FBI, governor, state cabinet member, state senator, assemblyman, assemblywoman, regal, sovereign, governing, royal, royalist, monarchical, kingly, imperial, imperiatorial, princely, feudal, aristocratic, autocratic, oligarchic, republican, dynastic, ruling, regnant, gubernatorial, imperious, authoritative, executive, administrative, clothed with authority, official, departmental, ex officio, imperative, peremptory, overruling, absolute, hegemonic, hegemonical, authorized, government, public, national, federal, his majesty's, her majesty's, state, county, city, N, a dog's obeyed in office, cada uno tiene su alguazil, le Roi le veut, regibus esse manus en nescio longas, regnant populi, the demigod Authority, the right divine of kings to govern wrong, uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.

Power

N power, potency, potentiality, jiva, puissance, might, force, energy, dint, right hand, right arm, ascendency, sway, control, prepotency, prepollence, almightiness, omnipotence, authority, strength, ability, ableness, competency, efficacy, efficiency, productivity, expertise (skill), validity, cogency, enablement, vantage ground, influence, pressure, conductivity, elasticity, gravity, electricity, magnetism, galvanism, voltaic electricity, voltaism, electromagnetism, atomic power, nuclear power, thermonuclear power, fuel cell, hydraulic power, water power, hydroelectric power, solar power, solar energy, solar panels, tidal power, wind power, attraction, vis inertiae, vis mortua, vis viva, potential energy, dynamic energy, dynamic friction, dynamic suction, live circuit, live rail, live wire, capability, capacity, quid valeant humeri quid ferre recusent, faculty, quality, attribute, endowment, virtue, gift, property, qualification, susceptibility, powerful, puissant, potential, capable, able, equal to, up to, cogent, valid, efficient, productive, effective, effectual, efficacious, adequate, competent, multipotent, plenipotent, omnipotent, almighty, forcible, (energetic), influential, productive, powerfully, by virtue of, by dint of, a toute force, dos moi pou sto kai kino ten gen, eripuit coelo fulmen sceptrumque tyrannis, fortis cadere cedere non potest.

Influence

N influence, importance, weight, pressure, preponderance, prevalence, sway, predominance, predominancy, ascendency, dominance, reign, control, domination, pull, authority, capability, effect, interest, synergy (cooperation), footing, purchase, play, leverage, vantage ground, tower of strength, host in himself, protection, patronage, auspices, influential, effective, important, weighty, prevailing, prevalent, rife, rampant, dominant, regnant, predominant, in the ascendant, hegemonical, with telling effect, tel maure tel valet.

Curvature

VB be curved curve, sweep, sway, swag, sag, deviate, curl, turn, reenter, render curved, flex, bend, curve, incurvate, inflect, deflect, scatter, refract (light), crook, turn, round, arch, arcuate, arch over, concamerate, bow, curl, recurve, frizzle, rotundity, convexity.

Agitation

VB be agitated, shake, tremble, tremble like an aspen leaf, quiver, quaver, quake, shiver, twitter, twire, writhe, toss, shuffle, tumble, stagger, bob, reel, sway, wag, waggle, wriggle, wriggle like an eel, dance, stumble, shamble, flounder, totter, flounce, flop, curvet, prance, cavort, squirm, throb, pulsate, beat, palpitate, go pitapat, flutter, flitter, flicker, bicker, bustle, ferment, effervesce, foam, boil, boil over, bubble up, simmer, toss about, jump about, jump like a parched pea, shake like an aspen leaf, shake to its center, shake to its foundations, be the sport of the winds and waves, reel to and fro like a drunken man, move from post to pillar and from pillar to post, drive from post to pillar and from pillar to post, keep between hawk and buzzard, agitate, shake, convulse, toss, tumble, bandy, wield, brandish, flap, flourish, whisk, jerk, hitch, jolt, jog, joggle, jostle, buffet, hustle, disturb, stir, shake up, churn, jounce, wallop, whip, vellicate.