Dwell Meaning

/dwɛl/
C1

Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

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nounA period of time in which a system or component remains in a given state.

nounA brief pause in the motion of part of a mechanism to allow an operation to be completed.

In a past-oriented society, people dwell on the past and on tradition.
Don't dwell on your past mistakes!
I will not dwell any longer upon this subject.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
Many species of fish ____ in the deep, dark trenches of the ocean.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
In a past-oriented society, people ____ on the past and on tradition.

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dʰwel-der. Proto-Germanic *dwalaz Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Germanic *-janą Proto-Germanic *dwaljaną Proto-West Germanic *dwalljan Old English dwellan ▲ Old Norse dveljainflu. Middle English dwellen English dwell From Middle English dwellen (“delay, live, remain, persist”), from Old English dwellan (“to mislead, deceive; be led into error, stray”), from Proto-Germanic *dwaljaną (“to hold up, delay; hesitate”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰwelH- (“to whirl, swirl, blur, obfuscate”), which is cognate with Old Norse dvelja and related to Proto-Germanic *dwelaną (“to go astray”), which underwent semantic change in its descendants. Cognates include Danish dvæle (“to linger, dwell”) and Swedish dväljas (“to dwell, reside”).

"I am fully resolved to go dwell in another house." — 1622, Henry Peacham (Jr.), The Compleat Gentleman:
"The poor man dwells in a humble cottage near the hall where the lord of the domain resides." — 1871, Charles John Smith, Synonyms Discriminated: A Complete Catalogue of Synonymous Words in the English Language:
"Well, since my baby left me, Well, I found a new place to dwell. Well, it's down at the end of Lonely Street At Heartbreak Hotel." — 1956, “Heartbreak Hotel”, Mae Boren Axton, Tommy Durden, Elvis Presley (lyrics), performed by Elvis Presley:
"So it came about that long ere Ailie reached home it was on young Heriotside that her mind dwelled, and it was the love of him that made her eyes glow and her cheeks redden." — 1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:
"Jeeves: Foreign travel often liberates emotions best kept in check, sir. The air of North America is notoriously stimulating in this regard, as witness the regrettable behavior of its inhabitants in 1776. B. Wooster: Hm? What happened in 1776, Jeeves? Jeeves: I prefer not to dwell on it, if it's convenient to you, sir." — 1991 May 12, “Kidnapped!”, in Jeeves and Wooster, Series 2, Episode 5:

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CEFR Practice Quiz
Many species of fish ____ in the deep, dark trenches of the ocean.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
In a past-oriented society, people ____ on the past and on tradition.

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