sword

[ sawrd, sohrd ]
/ sɔrd, soʊrd /

noun

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.
this weapon as the symbol of military power, punitive justice, authority, etc.: The pen is mightier than the sword.
a cause of death or destruction.
war, combat, slaughter, or violence, especially military force or aggression: to perish by the sword.
(initial capital letter) Military. the code name for one of the five D-Day invasion beaches on France's Normandy coast, assaulted by British forces.

Idioms for sword

Origin of sword

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

OTHER WORDS FROM sword

sword·less, adjective sword·like, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for sword

British Dictionary definitions for sword

sword
/ (sɔːd) /

noun

a thrusting, striking, or cutting weapon with a long blade having one or two cutting edges, a hilt, and usually a crosspiece or guard
such a weapon worn on ceremonial occasions as a symbol of authority
something resembling a sword, such as the snout of a swordfish
cross swords to argue or fight
the sword
  1. violence or power, esp military power
  2. death; destructionto put to the sword

Derived forms of sword

swordless, adjective swordlike, adjective

Word Origin for sword

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

Idioms and Phrases with sword

sword