oversway

English edit

Etymology edit

From over- +‎ sway.

Pronunciation edit

(UK) IPA^(key): /əʊvəˈsweɪ/

Verb edit

oversway (third-person singular simple present oversways, present participle overswaying, simple past and past participle overswayed)

(obsolete) To hold sway over; to have power or dominion over, to rule, govern. [16th–19th c.]
- 1624, John Smith, The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles: […], London: […] I[ohn] D[awson] and I[ohn] H[aviland] for Michael Sparkes, →OCLC, (please specify |book=1 to 6); reprinted in The Generall Historie of Virginia, [...] (Bibliotheca Americana), Cleveland, Oh.: The World Publishing Company, 1966, →OCLC:
  [T]he Presidents authoritie so overswayed the discretion of Master Scrivener, that our store, our time, our strength and labours were idely consumed to fulfill his phantasies.
To overrule. [from 16th c.]
To cause (someone, someone's thoughts or intentions etc.) to go in a particular direction; to influence. [from 16th c.]
To overpower, overwhelm. [from 17th c.]
- 1607, Edward Topsell, “The English Bloudhounde”, in The Historie of Fovre-footed Beastes. […], London: […] William Iaggard, →OCLC, page 152:
  Likevviſe the fragrancy of euery greene herbe yeeldeth ſuch a ſauour, as doth not a little obliterate and ouerſvvay the ſauour of the beaſt: […]