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Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary

May 27, 2012

Project::Noah

In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government ought to be instructed... No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people.

Preface to 1828 Dictionary

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(8) Words.

countersway
fossway
oversway
sway
swayed
swaying
unswayable
unswayed

Words

Definitions

(8) Words.

countersway
fossway
oversway
sway
swayed
swaying
unswayable
unswayed

Webster

KJV

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S › sway

1828 Definition

SWAY, v.t.

1. To move or wave; to wield with the hand; as, to sway the scepter.

2. To bias; to cause to lean or incline to one side. Let not temporal advantages sway you from the line of duty. The king was swayed by his council from the course he intended to pursue.

As bowls run true by being made

On purpose false, and to be sway'd.

3. To rule; to govern; to influence or direct by power and authority, or by moral force.

This was the race

To sway the world, and land and sea subdue.

She could not sway her house.

Take heed lest passion sway

Thy judgment to do aught which else free will

Would not admit.

SWAY, v.i. To be drawn to one side by weight; to lean. A wall sways to the west.

The balance sways on our part.

[This sense seems to indicate that this word and swag, are radically one.]

1. To have weight or influence.

The example of sundry churches--doth sway much.

2. To bear rule; to govern.

Had'st thou sway'd as kings should do--

3. In seamen's language, to hoist, particularly applied to the lower yards and to the topmast yards, &c.

SWAY, n. The swing or sweep of a weapon.

To strike with huge two-handed sway.

1. Any thing moving with bulk and power.

Are not you mov'd when all the sway of earth.

Shakes like a thing unfirm?

2. Preponderation; turn or cast of balance.

--Expert

When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway of battle.

3. Power exerted in governing; rule; dominion; control.

When vice prevails and impious men bear sway,

The post of honor is a private station.

4. Influence; weight or authority that inclines to one side; as the sway of desires. All the world is subject to the sway of fashion.

1913 Definition

Sway (sway)
v. t.	(?)
Sway
[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. S

To move or wield with the hand; to swing; to wield; as, to sway the scepter.

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

To influence or direct by power and authority; by persuasion, or by moral force; to rule; to govern; to guide.

The will of man is by his reason swayed. Shak.

She could not sway her house. Shak.

This was the race
To sway the world, and land and sea subdue. Dryden.

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.

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

Let not temporal and little advantages sway you against a more durable interest. Tillotson.

To hoist; as, to sway up the yards.

Syn. -- To bias; rule; govern; direct; influence; swing; move; wave; wield.

To be drawn to one side by weight or influence; to lean; to incline.

The balance sways on our part. Bacon.

To move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward.

To have weight or influence.

The example of sundry churches . . . doth sway much. Hooker.

To bear sway; to rule; to govern.

Hadst thou swayed as kings should do. Shak.

The act of swaying; a swaying motion; the swing or sweep of a weapon.

With huge two-handed sway brandished aloft. Milton.

Influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side; as, the sway of desires.

A. Tucker.

Preponderance; turn or cast of balance.

Expert
When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway
Of battle. Milton.

Rule; dominion; control.

Cowper.

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

A switch or rod used by thatchers to bind their work.

[Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Syn. -- Rule; dominion; power; empire; control; influence; direction; preponderance; ascendency.

Noah Says...

An attempt to conduct the affairs of a free government with wisdom and impartiality, and to preserve the just rights of all classes of citizens, without the guidance of Divine precepts, will certainly end in disappointment. God is the supreme moral Governor of the world He has made, and as He Himself governs with perfect rectitude, He requires His rational creatures to govern themselves in like manner. If men will not submit to be controlled by His laws, He will punish them by the evils resulting from their own disobedience.�

Letter to David McClure :: October 25, 1837

Fashion Trend Watch by Kelly Hughes

Take a look at some of the up and coming trends in the fashion world, analyzed by Kelly Hughes, an apparel merchandising student.\

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Project::Noah

More info ...

The foundation for American Heritage Access [AHA] strives to capture the essence of American culture with an intent to make early American manuscripts accessible to modern society. We believe that the successful future of this country is dependent on honoring and respecting its past. In order to achieve this ideal, several projects will be introduced and executed. The first initiatives of Project::Noah will involve the accessibility of the 1828 American dictionary.

Vision::Reprint

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The first vision, Vision::Reprint, has an intent to make a modern printing of the first dictionary of the American language available to the public for under $25. The first task, Task::Access, involves the digitizing of the original 1828 dictionary. The dictionary is available in microfilm (American Culture Series, Reel 335.6-336.1, Michigan University Microfilms) at many universities. To digitize the microfilm as a batch process requires a special scanner.

Vision::Redesign

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The second vision, Vision::Redesign, has an intent to improve the current online accessibility to the 1828 dictionary. Beyond the Task::XML, other tasks related to this Vision::Redesign include identifying features and functionality for this new website. In addition, plugins will be discussed and created to make the dictionary accessible in other ways: iPhone, Google widget, Firefox Add-on, etc.

Vision::Recapture

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The third vision, Vision::Recapture, has an intent to evoke the importance of Noah Webster in our American Heritage. This vision will manifest itself in a commissioned painting of Noah Webster. The process involved will require the input from concerned Americans. The final commission painting will be derived from initial sketches and digital compositions. Feedback from the community is essential for this vision's success throughout the entire process.

May 27, 2012