overswayn.
/ˈəʊvəsweɪ/, U.S. /ˈoʊvərˌsweɪ/ rare (chiefly poetic).
= overswaying n. Also: a position of sway or command over someone or something; dominance, ascendancy.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > [noun] > superior
oversway1603
over-rule1891
over-government1894
1603 J. Davies Microcosmos 185 These vnwise wittie Mal-contents are they That egge on Men vnwise, and violent, T'attempt the over-sway of Princes Sway.
1702 D. Defoe More Reformation 453 Where it gets a little oversway It hurries all our Honesty away.
1868 C. Lofft Ernest (ed. 2) xii. 283 For oversway she threw a small gold coin Into the balance.
1902 W. Watson in Westm. Gaz. 13 June 9/2 Kingdom in kingdom, sway in oversway, Dominion fold in fold.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
overswayv.
/ˌəʊvəˈsweɪ/, U.S. /ˌoʊvərˈsweɪ/ Now rare.
1. † a. transitive. To hold sway over; to exercise power or dominion over, to govern (literal and figurative). Also intransitive. Obsolete.Frequently used spec. with objects denoting rulers, governments, etc., who themselves rule or ought to rule.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > oppression > oppress [verb (transitive)] > domineer over
lord1563
overlord?1574
ride1576
overswaya1586
predomineer1594
to set (put) the dice upon1598
lord1671
to ride (also run) roughshod1778
domineer1796
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1593) i. 17 Which authoritie (like too great a sayle for so small a boate) doth so ouer-sway poore Dametas, that if before he were a good foole in a chamber, he might bee allowed it now in a comedie.
1587 T. Thomas Dict. Latinae & Anglicanae Impotens, that cannot bridle or ouersway his lusts and affections.
a1600 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie vii. viii, in Wks. (1662) 20 A number of Captains, all of equal power, without some higher to oversway them.
1637 N. Whiting Le Hore di Recreatione 130 Quoth she, I see that folly over-swayes, And Venus soveraigne is of every sect.
1649 J. Milton Εικονοκλαστης ix. 85 The Parlament should oversway the King, and not he the Parlament.
1653 R. Filmer Patriarcha (1680) ii. §6. 44 Three parts of Five..have power to oversway the Liberty of their Opposits.
1821 E. H. Thurlow Sel. Poems 75 The mind of man is like the ebbing Sea, O changeful Dian, oversway'd by thee!
b. transitive. To take precedence over by virtue of superior authority; to overrule, countermand (an order, ruling, action, etc.). Also intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > [verb (transitive)] > prevail over by superior authority
overrule1576
overtop1584
predominate1590
oversway1593
monarch1600
predominize1648
to have the whip hand (of)1680
predominec1721
society > authority > power > influence > have influence with [verb (transitive)] > have controlling or prevailing influence upon
rule?c1225
govern1340
overcomec1400
charmc1540
rein1557
oversway1593
reign1844
1593 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie i. vii. 61 As oft as the preiudice of sensible experience doth ouersway.
1601 Bp. W. Barlow Def. Protestants Relig. 188 Not ouer-swaying the scriptures by authoritie and nomber.
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet v. i. 222 Her death was doubtfull, And but that great commaund, ore-swayes the order, She should in ground vnsanctified been lodg'd Till the last trumpet. View more context for this quotation
a1620 M. Fotherby Atheomastix (1622) i. ii. §3. 13 This Authority..ouer-swayeth both all their reasons and authorities together.
1649 J. Milton Tenure of Kings 33 Had not thir distrust in a good cause, and the fast and loos of our prevaricating Divines oversway'd.
1878 N. Amer. Rev. 127 171 The Ultra-montane Catholics..set up the extreme pretensions of the Church to oversway all other authority.
2001 Michigan Citizen (Nexis) 3 Nov. 10 Such a police force will be effective precisely to the extent that it oversways the freedom and privacy of the citizens of every nation.
2. transitive. To cause (a person, his or her actions, conduct, or thoughts) to be directed in a particular way; to influence with regard to some decision or course of action; to persuade or prevail upon.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > persuade (a person) [verb (transitive)] > persuade or prevail upon
wina1340
persuadec1450
to prevail withc1450
prevail1466
train1549
overswaya1586
oppugn1596
overrulea1616
reach1637
to prevail upon1656
to gain upon1790
convince1958
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > unsteady movement > cause to move unsteadily [verb (transitive)] > cause to totter
shakec1050
overswaya1586
totter1613
brandle1622
labefactate1645
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Apol. Poetrie (1595) sig. K4v Ouer-swaying the memory from the purpose wherto they were applyed.
?1609 J. Healey tr. Bp. J. Hall Discouery New World ii. 137 The old countesses were not so much ouer-swaied by mine oration, but that I must to prison.
1619 Visct. Doncaster Let. in S. R. Gardiner Lett. Relations Eng. & Germany (1865) 1st Ser. 136 The reasons which overswayed me to adventure on the transgression.
a1652 R. Brome Queen & Concubine v. i. 107 in Five New Playes (1659) That cruel and Ambitious woman Hath oversway'd the Judgement of the King.
1714 J. Swift Change in Queen's Ministry in Wks. (1765) VIII. i. 12 His ungovernable temper had overswayed him to fail in his respects to her Majesty's person.
1725 E. F. Haywood Idalia iii. 118 She was of a Disposition generous enough, when Vanity, Pride, or Love, did not oversway her.
1779 H. Downman Lucius Junius Brutus v. ii. 117 If you'll by my advice be over-sway'd.
1950 Times 3 May 3/5 Some element in his calculating character which allows Brutus to oversway his judgment.
1991 Internat. Affairs 67 799 At times he appears to have allowed himself to be over-swayed by the..arguments.
2000 Calgary (Alberta) Herald (Nexis) 24 June a19 The forces of political correctness will not oversway me when it comes to the forces of the heart.
3. transitive. To overpower by being of greater strength, intensity, etc.; to dominate, overwhelm.Originally chiefly with reference to physical qualities, sometimes with overtones of sense 4; now only with reference to emotions and other immaterial qualities.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > be great in quantity, amount, or degree [verb (transitive)] > be greater than in quantity, amount, or degree > overpower by superiority in amount or degree
oversway1605
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > overcome or defeat > by superior strength
oversway1605
1605 T. Tymme tr. J. Du Chesne Pract. Chymicall & Hermeticall Physicke i. xiii. 54 The sulphur..doth exceed in qualitie the other two beginnings, and doth ouersway them.
1622 F. Markham Five Decades Epist. of Warre i. iv. §4. 15 If honor suffer or hang in the ballance, ready to bee ouerswaied with the poyze of iniurie.
a1639 T. Dekker et al. Witch of Edmonton (1658) i. i. 3 Your should have thought on this before, and then Your reason would have oversway'd the passion Of your unruly lust.
1658 tr. G. della Porta Nat. Magick xx. 396 Hot-waters of salt-waters..have a lightness that oversways the weight of the salt.
a1743 R. Savage Sir Thomas Overbury iii. i, in Wks. (1777) I. 151 The force of friendship oversways my griefs, And I must love you still.
1839 R. Dawes Nix's Mate I. iii. 62 Classon's evil passions had always overswayed his better nature.
1865 N. Amer. Rev. Jan. 18 The vicissitudes of war produce a frame of mind in which the feelings of the masses of men are likely to oversway their reason.
1868 C. Lofft Ernest (ed. 2) i. 22 The will that oversways all selfishness Must needs be heavenly.
1960 ELH 27 271 He neither committed evil..nor intended evil, his passions having overswayed his reason.
1978 Rev. in Amer. Hist. 6 488 Historiography has too often overswayed history in these two books.
4. transitive. To cause to lean or swing over, or to overturn (in quots. only in passive); to sway over or beyond (something). Also intransitive: to lean over or downwards.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > unsteady movement > move unsteadily [verb (intransitive)] > totter
shake1297
waive1338
wagc1340
falterc1386
waverc1440
branglea1522
totterc1522
wave1538
swerve1573
nod1582
tittera1618
cockle1634
labascate1727
teeter1904
oversway1994
1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. Concl. 896/1 Their high-mounted Pillar ouerswayed her owne Base, and the farre-spread boughes were growne too weighty for the stemme.
1741 H. Brooke Constantia in Poems (1810) 397/2 By his bulk of cumb'rous poise o'ersway'd, Full on his helm receiv'd th' adverse blade.
1858 W. Morris Def. Guenevere 118 As I pass'd, above The elms o'ersway'd with longing towards me hung.
1994 Times (Nexis) 10 Jan. (Sport section) He whistled a couple of shots out to the right when his body overswayed and his hands got too far ahead of the club.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > [adjective] > ruled or governed by superior power
overswayeda1625
mastered1693
overlorded1913
a1625 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Coxcombe v. iii, in Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Pp3/2 Such an overswayed sex is yours.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2004; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1603v.a1586