Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- Nautical, to tighten by binding together, as the shrouds of the lower rigging.
- noun Nautical: The forward shroud of the lower rigging.
- noun plural Formerly, in English ships, the after pair of shrouds.
- noun A small line joining the outer ends of capstan-bars to confine them to their sockets while the capstan is being turned.
- noun A rope used to encircle a boat longitudinally to strengthen and defend her sides in collision.
- noun Tackling to fasten a load to a wagon.
- noun A strong short stick inserted loop-wise into a rope or chain that goes round a load, acting as a lever to bind the load more tightly together.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- transitive verb (Naut.) To tighten, as slack standing rigging, by bringing the opposite shrouds nearer.
- noun A rope used to retain the bars of the capstan in their sockets while men are turning it.
- noun A rope used to encircle a boat longitudinally, to strengthen and defend her sides.
- noun The forward shroud of a lower mast.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective
comparative form ofswift : moreswift - verb nautical, transitive To
tighten (e.g. slack standingrigging ) by bringing the oppositeshrouds nearer.
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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87 But if we attentively reflect how much swifter is the progress of corruption than its cure, and if we remember that the years abandoned to public disorders exceeded the months allotted to the martial reign of Aurelian, we must confess that a few short intervals of peace were insufficient for the arduous work of reformation.
The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire 1206
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Extremes must meet, it is their urgent necessity; the reason for their distance, and the greater the distance between them, the swifter will be their return and the warmer their impact: they may shatter each other to fragments or they may fuse and become indissoluble and new and wonderful, but there is no other fertility.
Mary, Mary James Stephens 1916
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In the neighbourhood of the mountains lived the Troglodytes, men of various appearances, whom the Lixitæ described as swifter in running than horses.
History of Phoenicia George Rawlinson 1857
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The more of earth in the body, the swifter is the motion downward toward the earth.
The Tryal & Triumph of Faith: or An Exposition of the History of Christs dispossessing of the daughter of the woman of Canaan. 1600-1661 1645
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Robin follows, but the mare is swifter and carries less weight.
Secret History of Elizabeth Tudor, Vampire Slayer Lucy Weston 2011
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The moon had reached her summit in the heavens, and was beginning to descend; the clouds swept across it swifter than the flight of the vulture, and dimmed her rays, while the lake reflected the scene of the busy heavens, rendered still busier by the restless waves that were beginning to rise.
Chapter 23 2010
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But while there are good reasons to proceed with caution, the current crisis emphasizes the need for greater and swifter political integration if the euro - and with it, common Europe - is to survive.
Shadi Bushra: The Eurozone: Nation-States With Benefits Shadi Bushra 2011
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Even a swifter response would have faced grave challenges.
Bid to 'Protect Assets' Slowed Reactor Fight Norihiko Shirouzu 2011
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Last month, after more than a year of wrangling, the EU approved rules that make the imposition of certain sanctions much swifter.
Examining Europe's Crisis Deal Charles Forelle 2011
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If I stay on course today, tomorrow I move forth more effectively and swifter.
Courtney Cachet: How To Work From Home And Be Productive, Happy and Fabulous! Courtney Cachet 2012
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