51Թ

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View synonyms for

sword

[ sawrd, sohrd ]

noun

  1. a weapon having various forms but consisting typically of a long, straight or slightly curved blade, sharp-edged on one or both sides, with one end pointed and the other fixed in a hilt or handle.
  2. this weapon as the symbol of military power, punitive justice, authority, etc.:

    The pen is mightier than the sword.

  3. a cause of death or destruction.
  4. war, combat, slaughter, or violence, especially military force or aggression:

    to perish by the sword.

  5. Sword. Military. the code name for one of the five D-Day invasion beaches on France's Normandy coast, assaulted by British forces.


sword

/ ɔː /

noun

  1. a thrusting, striking, or cutting weapon with a long blade having one or two cutting edges, a hilt, and usually a crosspiece or guard
  2. such a weapon worn on ceremonial occasions as a symbol of authority
  3. something resembling a sword, such as the snout of a swordfish
  4. cross swords
    to argue or fight
  5. the sword
    1. violence or power, esp military power
    2. death; destruction

      to put to the sword

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈɴǰˌ, adjective
  • ˈɴǰ, adjective
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • ɴǰl adjective
  • ɴǰl adjective
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of sword1

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English sweord; cognate with Dutch zwaard, German Schwert, Old Norse sverth
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of sword1

Old English sweord; related to Old Saxon swerd, Old Norse sverth, Old High German swert
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Idioms and Phrases

  1. at swords' points, mutually antagonistic or hostile; opposed:

    Father and son are constantly at swords' point.

  2. cross swords,
    1. to engage in combat; fight.
    2. to disagree violently; argue:

      The board members crossed swords in the selection of a president.

  3. put to the sword, to slay; execute:

    The entire population of the town was put to the sword.

More idioms and phrases containing sword

In addition to the idiom beginning with sword , also see at sword's point ; cross swords .
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Named after a 1970s film about a 12th Century knight, could he put his rivals to the sword here?

From

She had 10 stab wounds after being attacked with a sword during a camping trip with friends.

From

Although the actor says he enjoys creating the footage, he also admitted it’s become “a little bit of a double-edged sword.”

From

Half the time, Black’s dialogue is just announcing what we’re looking at, from diamond swords to flying hot air balloons that look like goth squids.

From

"It's a bit of a double-edged sword because we have a number of people who have finally secured employment with Sizewell C, so they are now on good pay," he says.

From

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Related 51Թs

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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