Difference between revisions of "Sword - sward"
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| − | Do not confuse the words '''sword''' and '''sward''', and be careful not to write '''sward''' (with an ’a’) when you mean '''sword''' with an ‘o’. Note too that the pronunciation of '''sword''' is irregular: the ‘w’ is silent and the [[vowel]] is | + | Do not confuse the words '''sword''' and '''sward''', and be careful not to write '''sward''' (with an ’a’) when you mean '''sword''' (with an ‘o’). Note too that the pronunciation of '''sword''' is irregular: the ‘w’ is silent and the [[vowel]] is that of ‘ford’ or ‘lord’, {{IPA| sɔːd}}. |
| − | '''Sward''' is also an English word: it means ‘grass’ or ‘turf’ or ‘an expanse of grass’, and is pronounced with the ‘w’ sounded and the same [[vowel]] sound as '''sword''' {{IPA|swɔːd}}. There is also the word '''greensward''' ({{IPA|’griːn swɔːd}}, which has the same meaning as '''sward''', but is confined in its use to literary or poetic contexts. | + | '''Sward''' is also an English word: it means ‘grass’ or ‘turf’ or ‘an expanse of grass’, and is pronounced with the ‘w’ sounded and the same [[vowel]] sound as '''sword''' {{IPA|swɔːd}}. There is also the word '''greensward''' ({{IPA|’griːn swɔːd}}), which has the same meaning as '''sward''', but is confined in its use to literary or poetic contexts. |
'''Etymological note''': Both '''sword''' and '''sward''' have [[German]]ic roots. '''Sword''' is a descendant of the Old English ''sweard'', which is related to Old Saxon ''swerd''; Old Norse ''sverth'', and Old High German ''swert''; (The Modern German for sword is ''Schwert''.) '''Sward''' comes from the Old English ''sweard'' (‘skin’), which is related to Old Frisian ''swarde'' (‘scalp’) and Middle High German ''swart'' (‘hide’). | '''Etymological note''': Both '''sword''' and '''sward''' have [[German]]ic roots. '''Sword''' is a descendant of the Old English ''sweard'', which is related to Old Saxon ''swerd''; Old Norse ''sverth'', and Old High German ''swert''; (The Modern German for sword is ''Schwert''.) '''Sward''' comes from the Old English ''sweard'' (‘skin’), which is related to Old Frisian ''swarde'' (‘scalp’) and Middle High German ''swart'' (‘hide’). | ||
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The word '''sword''' forms part of a number of English expressions: | The word '''sword''' forms part of a number of English expressions: | ||
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'''to clash swords''' (with): means ‘to dispute or disagree fiercely (with)’, as in, e.g., ‘The Leader of the Opposition clashed swords with the Prime Minister at Question Time in the House of Commons’. | '''to clash swords''' (with): means ‘to dispute or disagree fiercely (with)’, as in, e.g., ‘The Leader of the Opposition clashed swords with the Prime Minister at Question Time in the House of Commons’. | ||
| − | '''the sword of Damocles''': ‘(to feel) '''the sword of Damocles''' (hanging over one)’ means to have a sense of impending disaster or catastrophe, to feel the vulnerability of one’s position’. The expression has its origin in an anecdote in the work of the Greek historian, Timaeus of Tauromenium (c350-c260 BCE). Timaeus’ work is lost, but the anecdote survives in a retelling by the Roman orator, politician, and philosopher, [[Cicero]] (106-43 BCE) in his ''Tusculan Disputations'' (5.61). '''Damocles''', a courtier at the court of the ruler of Syracuse, Dionysius II (397-343 BCE; ruled 367-357), used to speak enviously of | + | '''the sword of Damocles''': ‘(to feel) '''the sword of Damocles''' (hanging over one)’ means to have a sense of impending disaster or catastrophe, to feel the vulnerability of one’s position’. The expression has its origin in an anecdote in the work of the Greek historian, Timaeus of Tauromenium (c350-c260 BCE). Timaeus’ work is lost, but the anecdote survives in a retelling by the Roman orator, politician, and philosopher, [[Cicero]] (106-43 BCE) in his ''Tusculan Disputations'' (5.61). '''Damocles''', a courtier at the court of the ruler of Syracuse, Dionysius II (397-343 BCE; ruled 367-357), used to speak enviously of rulers such as Dionysius, with their magnificent palaces and opulent lifestyles. One day Dionysius responded by inviting '''Damocles''' to change places with him: he set before him food and wine of unsurpassed quality, put at his disposal servants ready to satisfy his every whim, but at the same time suspended from the ceiling by a single horse hair a sword which might at any moment fall and sever '''Damocles'''’ neck. In this way Damocles was made to appreciate that a ruler’s life is not as enviable as he had supposed, that rulers live in constant fear of being overthrown and killed. '''Damocles''' acknowledged his mistake, begged Dionysius to forgive him, and left his court. |
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| − | '''''The Sword of Honour''''' is the collective title of a trilogy of novels by Evelyn Waugh (1903-1966): ''Men at Arms'' (1952), ''Officers and Gentlemen'' (1955), and ''Unconditional Surrender'' (1961). The novels | + | '''''The Sword of Honour''''' is the collective title of a trilogy of novels by Evelyn Waugh (1903-1966): ''Men at Arms'' (1952), ''Officers and Gentlemen'' (1955), and ''Unconditional Surrender'' (1961). The novels are an account of the experiences in World War II of the fictional Guy Crouchback, an officer in the equally fictional Royal Corps of Halberdiers. |
'''The Sword of Honour''' is also a military award. It is presented annually to the British Army Officer Cadet whom the Commandant at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst considers to be the best cadet on the Regular Commissioning Course. | '''The Sword of Honour''' is also a military award. It is presented annually to the British Army Officer Cadet whom the Commandant at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst considers to be the best cadet on the Regular Commissioning Course. | ||
| − | [[Category:Etymology]][[Category:Spelling]][[Category:Culture]] | + | [[Category:Etymology]][[Category:Spelling]][[Category:Culture]][[Category:English literature]][[Category:Greek]][[Category:History]] |
Latest revision as of 14:53, 14 September 2021
Do not confuse the words sword and sward, and be careful not to write sward (with an ’a’) when you mean sword (with an ‘o’). Note too that the pronunciation of sword is irregular: the ‘w’ is silent and the vowel is that of ‘ford’ or ‘lord’, IPA: / sɔːd/.
Sward is also an English word: it means ‘grass’ or ‘turf’ or ‘an expanse of grass’, and is pronounced with the ‘w’ sounded and the same vowel sound as sword IPA: /swɔːd/. There is also the word greensward (IPA: /’griːn swɔːd/), which has the same meaning as sward, but is confined in its use to literary or poetic contexts.
Etymological note: Both sword and sward have Germanic roots. Sword is a descendant of the Old English sweard, which is related to Old Saxon swerd; Old Norse sverth, and Old High German swert; (The Modern German for sword is Schwert.) Sward comes from the Old English sweard (‘skin’), which is related to Old Frisian swarde (‘scalp’) and Middle High German swart (‘hide’).
The word sword forms part of a number of English expressions:
to put to the sword means ‘to kill’. The expression is typically used in the context of warfare and perhaps especially when the victims are (defenceless) civilians, as in, e.g., ‘The army entered the city and put all its male inhabitants to the sword’ and ‘The general ordered the captives to be put to the sword.’
to clash swords (with): means ‘to dispute or disagree fiercely (with)’, as in, e.g., ‘The Leader of the Opposition clashed swords with the Prime Minister at Question Time in the House of Commons’.
the sword of Damocles: ‘(to feel) the sword of Damocles (hanging over one)’ means to have a sense of impending disaster or catastrophe, to feel the vulnerability of one’s position’. The expression has its origin in an anecdote in the work of the Greek historian, Timaeus of Tauromenium (c350-c260 BCE). Timaeus’ work is lost, but the anecdote survives in a retelling by the Roman orator, politician, and philosopher, Cicero (106-43 BCE) in his Tusculan Disputations (5.61). Damocles, a courtier at the court of the ruler of Syracuse, Dionysius II (397-343 BCE; ruled 367-357), used to speak enviously of rulers such as Dionysius, with their magnificent palaces and opulent lifestyles. One day Dionysius responded by inviting Damocles to change places with him: he set before him food and wine of unsurpassed quality, put at his disposal servants ready to satisfy his every whim, but at the same time suspended from the ceiling by a single horse hair a sword which might at any moment fall and sever Damocles’ neck. In this way Damocles was made to appreciate that a ruler’s life is not as enviable as he had supposed, that rulers live in constant fear of being overthrown and killed. Damocles acknowledged his mistake, begged Dionysius to forgive him, and left his court.
The Sword of Honour is the collective title of a trilogy of novels by Evelyn Waugh (1903-1966): Men at Arms (1952), Officers and Gentlemen (1955), and Unconditional Surrender (1961). The novels are an account of the experiences in World War II of the fictional Guy Crouchback, an officer in the equally fictional Royal Corps of Halberdiers.
The Sword of Honour is also a military award. It is presented annually to the British Army Officer Cadet whom the Commandant at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst considers to be the best cadet on the Regular Commissioning Course.
