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View synonyms for swain

swain

[ sweyn ]

noun

  1. a male admirer or lover.
  2. a country lad.
  3. a country gallant.


swain

/ sweɪn /

noun

  1. a male lover or admirer
  2. a country youth
“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

  • ˈswainish, adjective
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Other Words From

  • swainish adjective
  • swainish·ness noun
  • under·swain noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of swain1

before 1150; Middle English swein servant < Old Norse sveinn boy, servant; cognate with Old English swān
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Word History and Origins

Origin of swain1

Old English swān swineherd; related to Old High German swein, Old Norse sveinn boy; see swine
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Example Sentences

All five remain free on bail, at least until U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain sentences them in late July.

Meanwhile, in Texas two days after the election, Mario Swain became the 13th person executed in the state this year.

After two hearings in New York last week that were at times comic, Judge Swain fashioned a compromise.

He turned to the foot-swain who stood at his side: “ Fetch hither five horse-whips,” King Valdemar cried.

The more costly the musical ingredients, the greater the swain's devotion!

Half-past eight oclock was the time appointed by Mary to see her swain, and the constables took care to be as punctual as he.

Before the House Mr. Swain spoke only under extraordinary emotion, and then he gained every ear.

Mr. Swain had bought the dwelling from an aged man with a history, dead some nine years back.

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SwahiliSwainson's hawk