swain

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/sweɪn/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/sweɪn/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(swān)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
swain /sweɪn/USA pronunciation   n. [countable]
  1. a male admirer or lover.
  2. a country lad.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
swain (swān),USA pronunciation  n. 
  1. a male admirer or lover.
  2. a country lad.
  3. a country gallant.
  • Old Norse sveinn boy, servant; cognate with Old English swān
  • Middle English swein servant bef. 1150
swain′ish, adj. 
swain′ish•ness, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
swain / sweɪn/
  1. a male lover or admirer
  2. a country youth
Etymology: Old English swān swineherd; related to Old High German swein, Old Norse sveinn boy; see swine
'swain' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Swainson's hawk - Swainson's thrush - boatswain - boatswain bird - boatswain's chair - boatswain's pipe - coxswain - sparker

Forum discussions with the word(s) "swain" in the title:


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