swither
[ swith -er ]
/ ˈswɪð ər /
|
noun British Dialect.
a state of confusion, excitement, or perplexity.
Nearby words
switching site, switchman, switchover, switchyard, swith, swither, swithin, swithin, saint, switz., switzer, switzerland
Origin of swither
1495–1505; origin uncertain; compare Old English geswithrian to retire, dwindle, fail
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for swither
A the folk say there was nae doubt about it, and sae does my mother, but my father was aye in a swither; he thought it couldna be.
Merkland|Mrs. OliphantThe whole works ud be in a swither 'fore iver we'd time to ax what was comin'.
He seemed to be in a swither whether to return home, to follow ye, or to lie down and die by the road.
Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 17|Alexander LeightonStrong cruel brutes, they did not swither a moment, but both leaped at M'Iver's throat.
John Splendid|Neil Munro
British Dictionary definitions for swither
swither
/ (ˈswɪðər) Scot /
verb (intr)
to hesitate; vacillate; be perplexed
noun
hesitation; perplexity; agitation
Word Origin for swither
C16: of unknown origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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