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swallow |
6 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Swallow \Swal"low\, n. [OE. swalowe AS swalewe swealwe akin to D. zwaluw OHG. swalawa G. schwalbe Icel. & Sw svala, Dan. svale.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of passerine birds of the family {Hirundinid[ae]}, especially one of those species in which the tail is deeply forked. They have long, pointed wings, and are noted for the swiftness and gracefulness of their flight. Note: The most common North American species are the barn swallow (see under {Barn}), the cliff, or eaves, swallow (see under {Cliff}), the white-bellied, or tree, swallow ({Tachycineta bicolor}), and the bank swallow (see under {Bank}). The common European swallow ({Chelidon rustica}), and the window swallow, or martin ({Chelidon urbica}), are familiar species. 2. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of swifts which resemble the true swallows in form and habits, as the common American chimney swallow, or swift. 3. (Naut.) The aperture in a block through which the rope reeves. --Ham. Nav. Encyc. {Swallow plover} (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of fork-tailed ploverlike birds of the genus {Glareola}, as {G. orientalis} of India; a pratincole. {Swallow shrike} (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of East Indian and Asiatic birds of the family {Artamiid[ae]}, allied to the shrikes but similar to swallows in appearance and habits. The ashy swallow shrike ({Artamus fuscus}) is common in India. {Swallow warbler} (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of East Indian and Australian singing birds of the genus {Dic[ae]um}. They are allied to the honeysuckers. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Swallow \Swal"low\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Swallowed}; p. pr & vb n. {Swallowing}.] [OE. swolewen swolwen, swolhen, AS swelgan akin to D. zwelgen OHG. swelahan swelgan G. schwelgen to feast, to revel, Icel. svelgia to swallow, SW sv["a]lja, Dan. sv[ae]lge. Cf {Groundsel} a plant.] 1. To take into the stomach; to receive through the gullet, or esophagus, into the stomach; as to swallow food or drink. As if I had swallowed snowballs for pills. --Shak. 2. To draw into an abyss or gulf; to ingulf; to absorb -- usually followed by up --Milton. The earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up and their houses. --Num. xvi. 32. 3. To receive or embrace, as opinions or belief, without examination or scruple; to receive implicitly. Though that story . . . be not so readily swallowed. --Sir T. Browne. 4. To engross; to appropriate; -- usually with up Homer excels . . . in this that he swallowed up the honor of those who succeeded him --Pope. 5. To occupy; to take up to employ. The necessary provision of the life swallows the greatest part of their time. --Locke. 6. To seize and waste; to exhaust; to consume. Corruption swallowed what the liberal hand Of bounty scattered. --Thomson. 7. To retract; to recant; as to swallow one's opinions. ``Swallowed his vows whole.'' --Shak. 8. To put up with to bear patiently or without retaliation; as to swallow an affront or insult. Syn: To absorb; imbibe; ingulf; engross; consume. See {Absorb}. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Swallow \Swal"low\, v. i. To perform the act of swallowing; as his cold is so severe he is unable to swallow. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Swallow \Swal"low\, n. 1. The act of swallowing. 2. The gullet, or esophagus; the throat. 3. Taste; relish; inclination; liking. [Colloq.] I have no swallow for it --Massinger. 4. Capacity for swallowing; voracity. There being nothing too gross for the swallow of political rancor. --Prof. Wilson. 5. As much as is or can be swallowed at once; as a swallow of water. 6. That which ingulfs; a whirlpool. [Obs.] --Fabyan. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: swallow n 1: a small amount of liquid food: "a sup of ale" [syn: {sup}] 2: the act of swallowing; "one swallow of the liquid was enough"; "he took a drink of his beer and smacked his lips" [syn: {drink}, {deglutition}] 3: small long-winged songbird noted for swift graceful flight and the regularity of its migrations v 1: pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking; "Swallow the raw fish--it won't kill you!" [syn: {get down}] 2: engulf and destroy, as if by ingestion: "The Nazis swallowed the Baltic countries" 3: enclose or envelop completely, as if by swallowing; "The huge waves swallowed the small boat and it sank shortly thereafter" [syn: {immerse}, {engross}, {swallow up}, {bury}, {eat up}] 4: utter indistinctly; "She swallowed the last words of her speech" 5: take back what one has said "He swallowed his words" [syn: {take back}, {unsay}, {withdraw}] 6: keep from expressing; "I swallowed my anger and kept quiet" 7: tolerate or accommodate oneself to "I shall have to accept these unpleasant working conditions"; "I swallowed the insult" [syn: {accept}] 8: believe or accept without questioning or challenge; "Am I supposed to swallow that story?" From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]: Swallow (1.) Heb. sis (Isa. 38:14; Jer. 8:7), the Arabic for the swift, which "is a regular migrant, returning in myriads every spring, and so suddenly that while one day not a swift can be seen in the country, on the next they have overspread the whole land, and fill the air with their shrill cry." The swift cypselus is ordinarily classed with the swallow, which it resembles in its flight, habits, and migration. (2.) Heb. deror, i.e., "the bird of freedom" (Ps. 84:3; Prov. 26:2), properly rendered swallow, distinguished for its swiftness of flight, its love of freedom, and the impossibility of retaining it in captivity. In Isa. 38:14 and Jer. 8:7 the word thus rendered ('augr) properly means crane" (as in the R.V.).
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