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   sway

   /swā/

   verb

   • 1. move or cause to move slowly or rhythmically backward and forward or from side to side: "he swayed slightly on his feet" Similar swingshakeoscillaterockundulatemove from side to sidemove to and fromove back and forthstaggerwobblerocklurchreelrollliststumblepitchkeelveerswervewaverfluctuatevacillateoscillatealternatevarysee-sawyo-yoequivocatehesitateshilly-shallygo from one extreme to the otherhum and hawinformal:wobbleblow hot and cold
   • ▪ control or influence (a person or course of action): "he's easily swayed by other people" Similar influenceaffectbiaspersuadeprevail onbring aroundtalk aroundwin overconvertmanipulatebendmoldinformal:nobble
   • ▪ rule; govern: "now let the Lord forever reign and sway us as he will" Similar rulegoverndominatecontroldirectguide

   noun

   • 1. a rhythmical movement from side to side: "the easy sway of her hips" Similar swingsweepwaverollshakemovementoscillationundulation
   • 2. rule; control: "the part of the continent under Russia's sway" Similar jurisdictionrulegovernmentsovereigntydominioncontrolcommandpowerauthorityascendancydominationmasterycontroldominationpowerauthoritysupremacyinfluenceleadershipdirectionleverageinformal:pullclout

   Word Origin Middle English: corresponding in sense to Low German swājen ‘be blown to and fro’ and Dutch zwaaien ‘swing, walk in a tottering way’.

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • S

     1

   • W

     4

   • A

     1

   • Y

     4

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