Meaning

• The act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon.

• A rocking or swinging motion.

  "The old song caused a little sway in everyone in the room."

• Influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side

  "I doubt I'll hold much sway with someone so powerful."

• Preponderance; turn or cast of balance.

• Rule; dominion; control; power.

• A switch or rod used by thatchers to bind their work.

• The maximum amplitude of a vehicle's lateral motion.

Meaning

• To move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock.

  "sway to the music;  The trees swayed in the breeze."

• To move or wield with the hand; to swing; to wield.

  "to sway the sceptre"

• To influence or direct by power, authority, persuasion, or by moral force; to rule; to govern; to guide. Compare persuade.

  "Do you think you can sway their decision?"

• To cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward; to bias; to turn; to bend; warp.

  "reeds swayed by the wind;  judgment swayed by passion"

• To hoist (a mast or yard) into position.

  "to sway up the yards"

• To be drawn to one side by weight or influence; to lean; to incline.

• To have weight or influence.

• To bear sway; to rule; to govern.