Noun
pitching dangerously to one side

Noun
controlling influence

Verb
move back and forth or sideways; "the ship was rocking"; "the tall building swayed"; "She rocked back and forth on her feet"

Verb
cause to move back and forth; "rock the cradle"; "rock the baby"; "the wind swayed the trees gently"

Verb
move or walk in a swinging or swaying manner; "He swung back"

Verb
win approval or support for; "Carry all before one"; "His speech did not sway the voters"

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

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

v. i.
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.

v. i.
To hoist; as, to sway up the yards.

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

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

v. i.
To have weight or influence.

v. i.
To bear sway; to rule; to govern.

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

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

n.
Preponderance; turn or cast of balance.

n.
Rule; dominion; control.

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

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Sway

Sway , v. t. [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. Swag, v. i.] 1. 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.

2. 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.

She could not sway her house.

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

3. 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.

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

4. (Naut.) To hoist; as, to sway up the yards. Syn. -- To bias; rule; govern; direct; influence; swing; move; wave; wield.

Sway

Sway , v. i. 1. To be drawn to one side by weight or influence; to lean; to incline.

The balance sways on our part.

2. To move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward. 3. To have weight or influence.

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

4. To bear sway; to rule; to govern.

Hadst thou swayed as kings should do.

Sway

Sway, n. 1. The act of swaying; a swaying motion; the swing or sweep of a weapon.

With huge two-handed sway brandished aloft.

2. Influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side; as, the sway of desires. A. Tucker. 3. Preponderance; turn or cast of balance.

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

4. Rule; dominion; control. Cowper.

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

5. A switch or rod used by thatchers to bind their work. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell. Syn. -- Rule; dominion; power; empire; control; influence; direction; preponderance; ascendency.

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

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