A long-bladed weapon with a hilt, and usually a pommel and cross-guard, which is designed to stab, slash, and/or hack.
"The knight raised his sword high before charging forward to strike the enemy."
In plain English: A sword is a long weapon with a sharp blade used for cutting or stabbing.
"The knight held his sword high before charging into battle."
Usage: Use the noun "sword" for any bladed melee weapon held in one hand, distinguishing it from shorter daggers. As a verb, describe the specific action of striking an opponent with such a blade rather than using generic terms like hit or strike.
To stab or cut with a sword
"The knight swung his sword to slash at the enemy's armor."
In plain English: To sword means to stab someone with a sharp weapon, though this usage is very rare and mostly found in old stories or specific dialects.
"The boxer did not pull his punches and sworded at her throat with every jab he threw, making it look like an absurd dance fight rather than a match anyone would want to see."
A surname.
"Many people do not realize that Sword is actually a common English surname rather than just a weapon."
The word "sword" comes from the Old English term sweord, which originally meant a weapon with a sharp blade. This root likely traces back to an ancient language family that included words meaning "sharp."