Chapter 1683

Sweet alyssum . (Bot.) See Alyssum . -- Sweet apple . (Bot.) (a) Any apple of sweet flavor. (b) See Sweet-top . -- Sweet bay . (Bot.) (a) The laurel ( laurus nobilis ). (b) Swamp sassafras. -- Sweet calabash (Bot.) , a plant of the genus Passiflora ( P. maliformis ) growing in the West Indies, and producing a roundish, edible fruit, the size of an apple. -- Sweet cicely . (Bot.) (a) Either of the North American plants of the umbelliferous genus Osmorrhiza having aromatic roots and seeds, and white flowers. Gray . (b) A plant of the genus Myrrhis ( M. odorata ) growing in England. -- Sweet calamus , ∨ Sweet cane . (Bot.) Same as Sweet flag , below. -- Sweet Cistus (Bot.) , an evergreen shrub ( Cistus Ladanum ) from which the gum ladanum is obtained. -- Sweet clover . (Bot.) See Melilot . -- Sweet coltsfoot (Bot.) , a kind of butterbur ( Petasites sagittata ) found in Western North America. -- Sweet corn (Bot.) , a variety of the maize of a sweet taste. See the Note under Corn . -- Sweet fern (Bot.) , a small North American shrub ( Comptonia, ∨ Myrica, asplenifolia ) having sweet-scented or aromatic leaves resembling fern leaves. -- Sweet flag (Bot.) , an endogenous plant ( Acorus Calamus ) having long flaglike leaves and a rootstock of a pungent aromatic taste. It is found in wet places in Europe and America. See Calamus , 2. -- Sweet gale (Bot.) , a shrub ( Myrica Gale ) having bitter fragrant leaves; -- also called sweet willow , and Dutch myrtle . See 5th Gale . Sweet grass (Bot.) , holy, or Seneca, grass. -- Sweet gum (Bot.) , an American tree ( Liquidambar styraciflua ). See Liquidambar . -- Sweet herbs , fragrant herbs cultivated for culinary purposes. -- Sweet John (Bot.) , a variety of the sweet William. -- Sweet leaf (Bot.) , horse sugar. See under Horse . -- Sweet marjoram . (Bot.) See Marjoram . -- Sweet marten (Zo\'94l.) , the pine marten. -- Sweet maudlin (Bot.) , a composite plant ( Achillea Ageratum ) allied to milfoil. -- Sweet oil , olive oil. -- Sweet pea . (Bot.) See under Pea . -- Sweet potato . (Bot.) See under Potato . -- Sweet rush (Bot.) , sweet flag. -- Sweet spirits of niter (Med. Chem.) See Spirit of nitrous ether , under Spirit . -- Sweet sultan (Bot.) , an annual composite plant ( Centaurea moschata ), also, the yellow-flowered ( C. odorata ); -- called also sultan flower . -- Sweet tooth , an especial fondness for sweet things or for sweetmeats. [Colloq.] -- Sweet William . (a) (Bot.) A species of pink ( Dianthus barbatus ) of many varieties. (b) (Zo\'94l.) The willow warbler. (c) (Zo\'94l.) The European goldfinch; -- called also sweet Billy . [Prov. Eng.] -- Sweet willow (Bot.) , sweet gale. -- Sweet wine . See Dry wine , under Dry . -- To be sweet on , to have a particular fondness for, or special interest in, as a young man for a young woman. [Colloq.] Thackeray .

Syn. -- Sugary; saccharine; dulcet; luscious.

Sweet <Xpage=1458>

Sweet (?) , n. 1. That which is sweet to the taste; -- used chiefly in the plural. Specifically: (a) Confectionery, sweetmeats, preserves, etc. (b) Home-made wines, cordials, metheglin, etc.

2. That which is sweet or pleasant in odor; a perfume. "A wilderness of sweets ."

Milton.

3. That which is pleasing or grateful to the mind; as, the sweets of domestic life .

A little bitter mingled in our cup leaves no relish of the sweet . Locke.

4. One who is dear to another; a darling; -- a term of endearment. "Wherefore frowns my sweet ?"

B. Jonson.

Sweet <Xpage=1458>

Sweet , adv. Sweetly.

Shak.

Sweet <Xpage=1458>

Sweet , v. t. To sweeten. [Obs.]

Udall.

Sweetbread <Xpage=1458>

Sweet"bread` (?) , n. 1. Either the thymus gland or the pancreas, the former being called neck, &or; throat, sweetbread , the latter belly sweetbread . The sweetbreads of ruminants, esp. of the calf, are highly esteemed as food. See Pancreas , and Thymus .

2. (Anat.) The pancreas.

Sweet-breasted <Xpage=1458>

Sweet"-breast`ed (?) , a. Having a sweet, musical voice, as the nightingale. Cf. Breast , n. , 6. [Obs.]

Sweetbrier <Xpage=1458>

Sweet"bri`er (?) , n. (Bot.) A kind of rose ( Rosa rubiginosa ) with minutely glandular and fragrant foliage. The small-flowered sweetbrier is Rosa micrantha .

Sweeten <Xpage=1458>

Sweet"en (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Sweetened (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Sweetening .] [See Sweet , a. ] 1. To make sweet to the taste; as, to sweeten tea .

2. To make pleasing or grateful to the mind or feelings; as, to sweeten life; to sweeten friendship .

3. To make mild or kind; to soften; as, to sweeten the temper .

4. To make less painful or laborious; to relieve; as, to sweeten the cares of life .

Dryden.

And sweeten every secret tear. Keble.

5. To soften to the eye; to make delicate.

Correggio has made his memory immortal by the strength he has given to his figures, and by sweetening his lights and shadows, and melting them into each other. Dryden.

6. To make pure and salubrious by destroying noxious matter; as, to sweeten rooms or apartments that have been infected; to sweeten the air.

7. To make warm and fertile; -- opposed to sour ; as, to dry and sweeten soils .

8. To restore to purity; to free from taint; as, to sweeten water, butter, or meat .

<-- 9. To make more attractive; -- said of offers in negotiations, as, to sweeten the deal by increasing the price offered. -->

Sweeten <Xpage=1458>

Sweet"en , v. i. To become sweet.

Bacon.

Sweetener <Xpage=1458>

Sweet"en*er (?) , n. One who, or that which, sweetens; one who palliates; that which moderates acrimony.

Sweetening <Xpage=1458>

Sweet"en*ing , n. 1. The act of making sweet.

2. That which sweetens.

Sweetheart <Xpage=1458>

Sweet"heart` (?) , n. A lover of mistress.

Sweethearting <Xpage=1458>

Sweet"heart`ing , n. Making love. "To play at sweethearting ."

W. Black.

Sweeting <Xpage=1458>

Sweet"ing , n. 1. A sweet apple.

Ascham.

2. A darling; -- a word of endearment.

Shak.

Sweetish <Xpage=1458>

Sweet"ish (?) , a. Somewhat sweet. -- Sweet"ish*ness , n.

Sweetly <Xpage=1458>

Sweet"ly , adv. [AS. sw\'c7tlice .] In a sweet manner.

Sweetmeat <Xpage=1458>

Sweet"meat` (?) , n. 1. Fruit preserved with sugar, as peaches, pears, melons, nuts, orange peel, etc.; -- usually in the plural; a confect; a confection.

2. The paint used in making patent leather.

3. (Zo\'94l.) A boat shell ( Crepidula fornicata ) of the American coast. [Local, U.S.]

Sweetness <Xpage=1458>

Sweet"ness , n. [AS. sw\'c7tness .] The quality or state of being sweet (in any sense of the adjective); gratefulness to the taste or to the smell; agreeableness.

Sweetroot <Xpage=1458>

Sweet"root` (?) , n. (Bot.) Licorice.

Sweet-scented <Xpage=1458>

Sweet"-scent`ed (?) , a. Having a sweet scent or smell; fragrant.

Sweet-scented shrub (Bot.) , a shrub of the genus Calycanthus , the flowers of which, when crushed, have a fragrance resembling that of strawberries.

Sweet-sop <Xpage=1458>

Sweet"-sop` (?) , n. (Bot.) A kind of custard apple ( Anona squamosa ). See under Custard .

Sweetwater <Xpage=1458>

Sweet"wa`ter (?) , n. (Bot.) A variety of white grape, having a sweet watery juice; -- also called white sweetwater , and white muscadine .

Sweetweed <Xpage=1458>

Sweet"weed` (?) , n. (Bot.) A name for two tropical American weeds ( Capraria biflora , and Scoparia dulcis ) of the Figwort family.

Sweetwood <Xpage=1458>

Sweet"wood` (?) , n. (Bot.) (a) The true laurel ( Laurus nobilis .) (b) The timber of the tree Oreodaphne Leucoxylon , growing in Jamaica. The name is also applied to the timber of several other related trees.

Sweetwort <Xpage=1458>

Sweet"wort` (?) , n. Any plant of a sweet taste.

Sweigh <Xpage=1458>

Sweigh (?) , n. Sway; movement. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Sweinmote <Xpage=1458>

Swein"mote` (?) , n. See Swainmote . [Obs.]

Swell <Xpage=1458>

Swell (?) , v. i. [ imp. Swelled (?) ; p. p. Swelled or Swollen (<?/) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Swelling .] [AS. swellan ; akin to D. zwellen , OS. & OHG. swellan , G. schwellen , Icel. svella , Sw. sv\'84lla .] 1. To grow larger; to dilate or extend the exterior surface or dimensions, by matter added within, or by expansion of the inclosed substance; as, the legs swell in dropsy; a bruised part swells ; a bladder swells by inflation.

2. To increase in size or extent by any addition; to increase in volume or force; as, a river swells , and overflows its banks; sounds swell or diminish.

3. To rise or be driven into waves or billows; to heave; as, in tempest, the ocean swells into waves .

4. To be puffed up or bloated; as, to swell with pride .

You swell at the tartan, as the bull is said to do at scarlet. Sir W. Scott.

5. To be inflated; to belly; as, the sails swell .

6. To be turgid, bombastic, or extravagant; as, swelling words; a swelling style.

7. To protuberate; to bulge out; as, a cask swells in the middle .

8. To be elated; to rise arrogantly.

Your equal mind yet swells not into state. Dryden.

9. To grow upon the view; to become larger; to expand. "Monarchs to behold the swelling scene!"

Shak.

10. To become larger in amount; as, many little debts added, swell to a great amount .

11. To act in a pompous, ostentatious, or arrogant manner; to strut; to look big.

Here he comes, swelling like a turkey cock. Shak.

Swell <Xpage=1458>

Swell , v. t. 1. To increase the size, bulk, or dimensions of; to cause to rise, dilate, or increase; as, rains and dissolving snow swell the rivers in spring; immigration swells the population .

[The Church] swells her high, heart-cheering tone. Keble.

2. To aggravate; to heighten.

It is low ebb with his accuser when such peccadilloes are put to swell the charge. Atterbury.

3. To raise to arrogance; to puff up; to inflate; as, to be swelled with pride or haughtiness .

4. (Mus.) To augment gradually in force or loudness, as the sound of a note.

Swell <Xpage=1458>

Swell , n. 1. The act of swelling.

2. Gradual increase. Specifically: (a) Increase or augmentation in bulk; protuberance. (b) Increase in height; elevation; rise.

Little River affords navigation during a swell to within three miles of the Miami. Jefferson.

(c) Increase of force, intensity, or volume of sound.

Music arose with its voluptuous swell . Byron.

(d) Increase of power in style, or of rhetorical force.

The swell and subsidence of his periods. Landor.

3. A gradual ascent, or rounded elevation, of land; as, an extensive plain abounding with little swells .

4. A wave, or billow; especially, a succession of large waves; the roll of the sea after a storm; as, a heavy swell sets into the harbor .

The swell Of the long waves that roll in yonder bay. Tennyson.

The gigantic swells and billows of the snow. Hawthorne.

5. (Mus.) A gradual increase and decrease of the volume of sound; the crescendo and diminuendo combined; -- generally indicated by the sign.

6. A showy, dashing person; a dandy. [Slang]

Ground swell . See under Ground . -- Organ swell (Mus.) , a certain number of pipes inclosed in a box, the uncovering of which by means of a pedal produces increased sound. -- Swell shark (Zo\'94l.) , a small shark ( Scyllium ventricosum ) of the west coast of North America, which takes in air when caught, and swells up like a swellfish.

Swell <Xpage=1458>

Swell , a. Having the characteristics of a person of rank and importance; showy; dandified; distinguished; as, a swell person; a swell neighborhood. [Slang]

Swell mob . See under Mob . [Slang]

Swelldom <Xpage=1458>

Swell"dom (?) , n. People of rank and fashion; the class of swells, collectively. [Jocose]

Swellfish <Xpage=1458>

Swell"fish` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) Any plectognath fish that dilates itself, as the bur fish, puffer, or diodon.

Swelling <Xpage=1458>

Swell"ing , n. 1. The act of that which swells; as, the swelling of rivers in spring; the swelling of the breast with pride.

Rise to the swelling of the voiceless sea. Coleridge.

2. A protuberance; a prominence ; especially (Med.) , an unnatural prominence or protuberance; as, a scrofulous swelling .

The superficies of such plates are not even, but have many cavities and swellings . Sir I. Newton.

Swellish <Xpage=1458>

Swell"ish , a. Dandified; stylish. [Slang]

Swelltoad <Xpage=1458>

Swell"toad` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) A swellfish.

Swelt <Xpage=1458>

Swelt (?) , obs. imp. of Swell .

Swelt <Xpage=1458>

Swelt , v. i. [OE. swelten to die, to swoon or faint, AS. sweltan to die; akin to OD. swelten to hunger, to fail, OS. sweltan to die, Icel. svelta to die, to hunger, Sw. sv\'84lta to hunger, Dan. sulte , Goth. sviltan to die. Cf. Swelter , Sweltry .] 1. To die; to perish. [Obs.]

2. To faint; to swoon. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Night she swelt for passing joy. Spenser.

Swelt <Xpage=1458>

Swelt , v. t. To overpower, as with heat; to cause to faint; to swelter. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

Bp. Hall.

Swelter <Xpage=1458>

Swel"ter (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Sweltered (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Sweltering .] [From Swelt , v. i. ] 1. To be overcome and faint with heat; to be ready to perish with heat. " Sweltered cattle."

Coleridge.

2. To welter; to soak. [Obs.]

Drayton.

Swelter <Xpage=1458>

Swel"ter , v. t. 1. To oppress with heat.

Bentley.

2. To exude, like sweat. [R.]

Shak.

Sweltry <Xpage=1458>

Swel"try (?) , a. [See Swelter , Swelt , v. i. , and cf. Sultry .] Suffocating with heat; oppressively hot; sultry. [R.]

Evelyn.

Swelve <Xpage=1458>

Swel"ve (?) , v. t. To swallow. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Swept <Xpage=1458>

Swept (?) , imp. & p. p. of Sweep .

Swerd <Xpage=1458>

Swerd (?) , n. & v. See Sward , n. & v. [Obs.]

Swerd <Xpage=1458>

Swerd , n. Sword. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Swerve <Xpage=1458>

Swerve (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Swerved (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Swerving .] [OE. swerven , AS. sweorfan to wipe off, to file, to polish; akin to OFries. swerva to creep, D. zwerven to swerve, to rope, OS. swerban to wipe off, MHG. swerben to be whirled, OHG. swerban to wipe off, Icel. sverfa to file, Goth. swa\'a1rban (in comp.) to wipe, and perhaps to E. swarm . Cf. Swarm .] 1. To stray; to wander; to rope. [Obs.]

A maid thitherward did run, To catch her sparrow which from her did swerve . Sir P. Sidney.

2. To go out of a straight line; to deflect. "The point [of the sword] swerved ."

Sir P. Sidney.

3. To wander from any line prescribed, or from a rule or duty; to depart from what is established by law, duty, custom, or the like; to deviate.

I swerve not from thy commandments. Bk. of Com. Prayer.

They swerve from the strict letter of the law. Clarendon.

Many who, through the contagion of evil example, swerve exceedingly from the rules of their holy religion. Atterbury.

4. To bend; to incline. "The battle swerved ."

Milton.

5. To climb or move upward by winding or turning.

The tree was high; Yet nimbly up from bough to bough I swerved . Dryden.

Swerve <Xpage=1458>

Swerve , v. t. To turn aside.

Gauden.

Sweven <Xpage=1458>

Swe"ven (?) , n. [AS. swefen sleep, dream; akin to swebban , swefian , to put to sleep, to kill. \'fb176. See Somnolent .] A vision seen in sleep; a dream. [Obs.]

Wycliff (Acts ii. 17).

I defy both sweven and dream. Chaucer.

Swich <Xpage=1458>

Swich (?) , a. [See Such .] Such. [Obs.]

Swich things as that I know I will declare. Chaucer.

Swietenia <Xpage=1458>

Swie*te"ni*a (?) , n. [NL. Named after Gerard Van Sweiten , physician to Maria Theresa of Austria.] (Bot.) A genus of meliaceous trees consisting of one species ( Sweitenia Mahogoni ), the mahogany tree.

Swift <Xpage=1458>