sway

verb (sway, sways, swayed, swaying); noun (sway)

«sway» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

Everyday

To sway is to move slowly from side to side, like trees in the wind or a person dancing. tree →
To sway someone is to change their opinion or make them decide something. tree →
Sway (noun) is power or influence over people: «hold sway». tree →

In the lessons

In stories and poems «sway» describes gentle movement: «the trees swayed in the breeze», «the boat swayed on the waves». In science, tall buildings and bridges are built to sway a little in wind or earthquakes rather than break. In lessons on persuasion, an advert tries «to sway you» to buy something. Phrases: «sway in the wind», «sway to the music», «hold sway», «be swayed by».

Examples

The trees swayed in the wind. tree →
We swayed to the music. tree →
The boat swayed from side to side. tree →
Tall towers sway slightly in strong winds. tree →
Don't be swayed by adverts. tree →
His speech swayed the class to vote for him. tree →
The rope bridge swayed as we crossed. tree →
The nest swayed to and fro, as they sat on the rim and cried. tree →

Note

Past: swayed. «Sway» is gentle; «swing» is a bigger movement on a fixed point. Being «swayed» by friends is not always bad, but think for yourself.

In Jewish tradition

In Jotham's fable the trees will not give up good fruit to be king.

Interpretation. Tradition reads the fable as a warning about Abimelech. Those who do good work refuse power, while a thorn is willing to rule.

Examples

But the fig-tree said unto them: Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruitage, and go to hold sway over the trees? (Prophets JDG.9.11, JPS 1917) tree →
And the vine said unto them: Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to hold sway over the trees? (Prophets JDG.9.13, JPS 1917) tree →
But the olive-tree said unto them: Should I leave my fatness, seeing that by me they honour God and man, and go to hold sway over the trees? (Prophets JDG.9.9, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Past: swayed. «Sway» is gentle; «swing» is a bigger movement on a fixed point. Being «swayed» by friends is not always bad, but think for yourself.

On Mova

Trees and pragmatics of «sway» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«sway» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
Trees and pragmatics of «sway» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«sway» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.

This page in Markdown → https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/sway/