swain
pronunciation
How to pronounce swain in British English:
UK [sweɪn]
How to pronounce swain in American English:
US [swen]
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- Noun:
- a man who is the lover of a girl or young woman
Word Origin
- swain (n.)
- mid-12c., "young man attendant upon a knight," from Old Norse sveinn "boy, servant, attendant," from Proto-Germanic *swainaz "attendant, servant," properly "one's own (man)," from PIE *swoi-no-, from root *s(w)e- "oneself, alone, apart" (see idiom). Cognate with Old English swan "shepherd, swineherd," Old Saxon swen, Old High German swein. Meaning "country or farm laborer" is from 1570s; that of "lover, wooer" (in pastoral poetry) is from 1580s.
Example
- 1. Where did he hide you , petty officer swain ?
- 2. Swain , you sure you don 't want in on this ?
- 3. Swain , what are you bringing me this shit for ?
- 4. Who 's private swain ?
- 5. Mr. swain , you 're calling aboutthe account of one robert brown .