n.
- a weapon with a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard, used for thrusting or striking and often worn as part of ceremonial dress.
▸
(the sword)
literary military power; violence.
-
(swords)
one of the suits in a tarot pack.
Phrase
- beat
(or turn)
swords into ploughshares
devote resources to peaceful rather than warlike ends.
[with biblical allusion to Is. 2:4 and Mic. 4:3.]
- put to the sword
kill, especially in war.
Etymology
OE sw(e)ord, of Gmc origin.
