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

/ sɔːd /

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
   cross swords to argue or fight
5. the sword
   the sword
   1. violence or power, esp military power
   2. death; destruction

      to put to the sword

Derived Forms

• ˈswordˌlike, adjective
• ˈswordless, adjective

Other Words From

• swordless adjective
• swordlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sword¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English sweord; cognate with Dutch zwaard, German Schwert, Old Norse sverth

Word History and Origins

Origin of sword¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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 .

Example Sentences

But then the sword is miraculously returned to him, and he girds for battle once again.

From The Daily Beast

Jonathan Gruber, the economist who helped design Romneycare and the Affordable Care Act, falls on his sword before Congress.

From The Daily Beast

Unlike all the trailers and screen shots for the movie, in the Bible Moses never holds a sword or wears armor.

From The Daily Beast

Joshua puts to the sword women, infants, and animals at Jericho.

From The Daily Beast

At Towton Field, on 29th March, 1461, 33,000 men perished by the sword and were buried there.

From The Daily Beast

The men, whose poniards his sword parried, had recourse to fire-arms, and two pistols were fired at him.

From Project Gutenberg

Whatever you do, don't write a word to that Carr friend of yours; he's as sharp as a two-edged sword.

From Project Gutenberg

He stabbed her from beneath, and passed half of his sword through her body, and at that the poor lady fell.

From Project Gutenberg

Since words have different meanings, we may sometimes find that a pair of words exemplify all three Laws, as plough and sword.

From Project Gutenberg

The teeth of beasts, and scorpions, and serpents, and the sword taking vengeance upon the ungodly unto destruction.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• blade
• dagger
• saber