swain
4
9.9
- noun
- /sweɪn/
- Archaic
:
pretendiente
- With flowers in hand, the swain approached the beautiful maiden.
- a young swain
Examples
-
But where were Mme E. and her swain?
Fiction book (2000) -
Stammering like a lovesick swain.
-
There did I see that low-spirited swain...
-
Or a suitor, or a swain, or anything you please except boyfriend.
Fiction book (1993) -
Not the eyes of a lovesick swain.
Fiction book (2001) -
Or he'll just find out she's got a new swain and that's not good.
-
It became a point of honor and pride that he not act the lovesick swain, not let her know how deeply he had grown to care for her...
Fiction book (1994) -
The young swain sang beneath her window, hoping to win her heart.
-
In the twilight, the swain nervously awaited her response to his proposal.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
A man who is in a romantic relationship with someone
614
1.0
A person who has a romantic or sexual relationship with someone
48
4.4
A man who wants to marry a woman
16
7.8
A man who is someone's romantic partner or boyfriend
4
9.5
A person you love and feel close to
4
7.0
A young man who acts charming and shows romantic interest
1
8.6
A man who tries to win a woman's love, often to marry her
A man who is a woman's secret lover, not her husband
How Romantic
614
1.0
- Informal
∞
1.0
48
4.4
- Archaic
4
9.9
16
7.8
113
2.3
Surface Forms
Etymology
Swain comes from an old Norse word sveinn meaning 'young man' or 'servant'. Picture a young country lad or shepherd singing below a window, and that's why swain came to mean a lover or suitor in poems and old songs.