from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Dwell \Dwell\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Dwelled}, usually contracted
into {Dwelt} (?); p. pr. & vb. n. {Dwelling}.] [OE. dwellen,
dwelien, to err, linger, AS. dwellan to deceive, hinder,
delay, dwelian to err; akin to Icel. dvelja to delay, tarry,
Sw. dv[aum]ljas to dwell, Dan. dv[ae]le to linger, and to E.
dull. See {Dull}, and cf. {Dwale}.]
1. To delay; to linger. [Obs.]
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2. To abide; to remain; to continue.
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I 'll rather dwell in my necessity. --Shak.
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Thy soul was like a star and dwelt apart.
--Wordsworth.
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3. To abide as a permanent resident, or for a time; to live
in a place; to reside.
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The parish in which I was born, dwell, and have
possessions. --Peacham.
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The poor man dwells in a humble cottage near the
hall where the lord of the domain resides. --C. J.
Smith.
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{To dwell in}, to abide in (a place); hence, to depend on.
"My hopes in heaven to dwell." --Shak.
{To dwell on} or {To dwell upon}, to continue long on or in;
to remain absorbed with; to stick to; to make much of; as,
to dwell upon a subject; a singer dwells on a note.
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They stand at a distance, dwelling on his looks and
language, fixed in amazement. --Buckminster.
Syn: To inhabit; live; abide; sojourn; reside; continue;
stay; rest.
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