sword

Pluralswords

Formsswords, swording, sworded

1. 1
   weaponnouncountable

   A long bladed weapon with a grip and usually a pommel and crossguard forming a hilt, made to cut, stab, slash, or hack.

   The fencer lowered his sword once the bout ended.

   Museum collections often include swords forged many centuries ago.

   Similarblade

   Note

   Its sharpness was already a figure of speech when John Skelton called slanderous tongues "sharper then swordes." Francis Grose, writing on ancient armor in 1786, draws the distinction collectors still use: some swords were made only to thrust, some only to cut, and others for both. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

   • John Skelton figuratively described malicious tongues as sharper then swordes. otago.ac.nz
   • Francis Grose's treatise on ancient armour and weapons was published in 1786. archive.org
   • Grose distinguished swords made for thrusting, cutting, or both. archive.org
2. 2
   nounliterary

   Military force or violence used to win power, govern, or make people obey, usually spoken of as the sword.

   The empire was won by the sword and held together by fear.

   This time the rebels chose the ballot box over the sword.

   Similarforce, violence

   Note

   Proverbs keep it alive: the pen is mightier than the sword, from Edward Bulwer-Lytton's play Richelieu (1839), and those who live by the sword die by the sword, after Jesus's words in Matthew's Gospel. To put a city to the sword is to slaughter its people. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 5 facts

   • Edward Bulwer-Lytton wrote the play Richelieu. en.wikipedia.org
   • Richelieu was first published in 1839. archive.org
   • The pen is mightier than the sword appears in Richelieu, spoken by the character Richelieu. archive.org
   • Those who live by the sword die by the sword paraphrases Jesus's words in Matthew 26:52. en.wikisource.org
   • Putting a city to the sword means killing its inhabitants. en.wiktionary.org
3. 3
   single cardnouncountable

   One of the four suits in Spanish, Italian, and tarot card decks, or a single card of that suit.

   Three of the five cards she drew were swords, and the reader warned her of conflict ahead.

   Holding three swords, she felt confident about the hand.

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