dwell

American  

[dwel] / dwɛl /

verb (used without object)

dwelt, dwelled, dwelling

1. to live or stay as a permanent resident; reside.

2. to live or continue in a given condition or state.

   to dwell in happiness.

3. to linger over, emphasize, or ponder in thought, speech, or writing (often followed by on orupon ).

   to dwell on a particular point in an argument.

4. (of a moving tool or machine part) to be motionless for a certain interval during operation.

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noun

1. Machinery.

   1. a flat or cylindrical area on a cam for maintaining a follower in a certain position during part of a cycle.

   2. a period in a cycle in the operation of a machine or engine during which a given part remains motionless.

dwell British  

/ dwɛl /

verb

1. formal to live as a permanent resident

2. to live (in a specified state)

   to dwell in poverty

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noun

1. a regular pause in the operation of a machine

2. a flat or constant-radius portion on a linear or rotary cam enabling the cam follower to remain static for a brief time

Other Word Forms

• dweller noun
• outdwell verb (used with object)
• predwell verb (used without object)

Etymology

Origin of dwell

First recorded before 900; Middle English dwellen “to lead astray; stun; abide,” Old English dwellan “to lead or go astray; hinder”; cognate with Old Norse dvelja

Example Sentences

If you make a mistake, don’t dwell on it.

From Los Angeles Times

Since then, leaders of both countries have tended not to dwell on the past in public, but focused on reconciliation.

From BBC

“I refer to the Spirit of Poetry, who dwells anonymous among us. Dwelleth.”

From Literature

There was no time to dwell on it as I exited the restaurant area and dashed downstairs to change.

From Literature

In fact, it cares so much about this “dwell time” metric that the company is now betting on an entirely different kind of store.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bide
• exist
• hole up
• inhabit
• reside
• squat