v. i. 1. To be drawn to one side by weight or influence; to lean; to incline. [ 1913 Webster ]

The balance sways on our part. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To have weight or influence. [ 1913 Webster ]

The example of sundry churches . . . doth sway much. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To bear sway; to rule; to govern. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hadst thou swayed as kings should do. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Swayed p. pr. & vb. n. Swaying. ] [ OE. sweyen, Icel. sveigja, akin to E. swing; cf. D. zwaaijen to wield, swing. See Swing, and cf. Swag, v. i. ] 1. To move or wield with the hand; to swing; to wield; as, to sway the scepter. [ 1913 Webster ]

As sparkles from the anvil rise,
When heavy hammers on the wedge are swayed. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To influence or direct by power and authority; by persuasion, or by moral force; to rule; to govern; to guide. [ 1913 Webster ]

The will of man is by his reason swayed. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

She could not sway her house. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

This was the race
To sway the world, and land and sea subdue. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward; to bias; to turn; to bend; warp; as, reeds swayed by wind; judgment swayed by passion. [ 1913 Webster ]

As bowls run true by being made
On purpose false, and to be swayed. Hudibras. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let not temporal and little advantages sway you against a more durable interest. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Naut.) To hoist; as, to sway up the yards. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To bias; rule; govern; direct; influence; swing; move; wave; wield. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of swaying; a swaying motion; the swing or sweep of a weapon. [ 1913 Webster ]

With huge two-handed sway brandished aloft. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side; as, the sway of desires. A. Tucker. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Preponderance; turn or cast of balance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Expert
When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway
Of battle. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Rule; dominion; control. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

When vice prevails, and impious men bear sway,
The post of honor is a private station. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A switch or rod used by thatchers to bind their work. [ Prov. Eng. ] Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Rule; dominion; power; empire; control; influence; direction; preponderance; ascendency. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having the back hollow or sagged, whether naturally or as the result of injury or weakness; -- said of horses and other animals. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Vehicles) (a) A bar attached to the hounds, in the rear of the front axle, so as to slide on the reach as the axle is swung in turning the vehicle. (b) Either of the two bars used on couplong the oront ano rear sleds of a logging sled; also, the bar used to couple two logging cars. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. (Engin.) The horizontal bracing of a bridge, which prevents its swaying. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Bent down, and hollow in the back; sway-backed; -- said of a horse. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Able to sway. [ R. ] Rush. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An injury caused by violent strains or by overloading; -- said of the backs of horses. Crabb. [ 1913 Webster ]