dwell
[ dwel ]
/ dwɛl /
verb (used without object), dwelt or dwelled, dwell·ing.
to live or stay as a permanent resident; reside.
to live or continue in a given condition or state: to dwell in happiness.
to linger over, emphasize, or ponder in thought, speech, or writing (often followed by on or upon): to dwell on a particular point in an argument.
(of a moving tool or machine part) to be motionless for a certain interval during operation.
noun
Machinery.
- a flat or cylindrical area on a cam for maintaining a follower in a certain position during part of a cycle.
- a period in a cycle in the operation of a machine or engine during which a given part remains motionless.
Origin of dwell
before 900; Middle English
dwellen to lead astray, stun, abide, Old English
dwellan to lead or go astray, hinder; cognate with Old Norse
dvelja
OTHER WORDS FROM dwell
dwell·er, noun out·dwell, verb (used with object), out·dwelt or out·dwelled, out·dwell·ing. pre·dwell, verb (used without object)Words nearby dwell
dwarves,
dwayne,
dwb,
dweeb,
dweeby,
dwell,
dwell on,
dwell time,
dwelling,
dwelling house,
dwelling place
Example sentences from the Web for dwell
British Dictionary definitions for dwell
dwell
/ (dwɛl) /
verb dwells, dwelling, dwelt (dwɛlt) or dwelled (intr)
formal, literary
to live as a permanent resident
to live (in a specified state)
to dwell in poverty
noun
a regular pause in the operation of a machine
a flat or constant-radius portion on a linear or rotary cam enabling the cam follower to remain static for a brief time
Derived forms of dwell
dweller, nounWord Origin for dwell
Old English
dwellan to seduce, get lost; related to Old Saxon
bidwellian to prevent, Old Norse
dvelja, Old High German
twellen to prevent