Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To burn; scorch.
  • noun Doubt; hesitation; perplexity; a state of irresolute wavering.
  • noun A fright.
  • noun A perspiration.
  • To fail; falter; hesitate.
  • To fear.
  • To emit a whirring sound; whizz.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb To be indecisive or in a state of confusion; to dither.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun agitation resulting from active worry

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Origin unknown.

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Examples

Comments

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  • Surely this is a verb. To swither means to be undecided, or something like that.

    January 17, 2009

  • "People were … in a swither, unwilling to stir untill the first ruffle was past;"

    - Erskine Diary, 1685.

    January 17, 2009

  • As hither is mixed up with thither

    And whence is confounded with wither,

    If you would compose

    Faux biblical prose

    Prepare for a sweat and a swither.

    January 20, 2018