| 释义 |
swan
I. \ˈswän also -wȯn\ noun
(plural swans also swan)
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Middle Dutch swane swan, Middle High German swan, Old Norse svanr swan, Old English swinsian to make music, swinn music, melody; perhaps from the legendary belief that the swan sings before it dies — more at sound
1. : any of various heavy-bodied very long-necked aquatic birds related to but larger than the geese, constituting a distinct subfamily of the family Anatidae, having usually pure white plumage when adult, walking awkwardly, flying strongly when once started, and being graceful swimmers — see black swan, mute swan, trumpeter swan, whooper swan
2.
a. : one that resembles or is likened to a swan
< the accused are all swans and the blackness of guilt is thrown upon the witnesses — Miles Prance >
b. : one who makes music of the melodic sweetness traditionally ascribed to the dying song of a swan : bard, singer
< sweet swan of Avon — Ben Jonson >
II. intransitive verb
(swanned ; swanned ; swanning ; swans)
: to wander aimlessly or sweep majestically : dally, sail
< such vehicles … would hamper operations if they started swanning about in the midst of a swirling, hit-and-run tank fight — Russell Hill >
< professional delegates, swanning with practiced appreciation from one … convention to another — James Cameron >
< aircraft equipped with loudspeakers swanned low over the forest with a new message — Time >
III. verb
(swanned ; swanned ; swanning ; swans)
Etymology: perhaps euphemism for swear
intransitive verb
dialect : declare, swear
< we're goin' to miss her, I swan — J.C.Lincoln >
transitive verb
dialect : surprise
< said he'd be swanned … and took on like there was no predicting what a school education would do for a clerk — Frederick Way >
IV.
Usage: usually capitalized
variant of svan |