swain
/swein/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A male admirer or suitor; a young man who is courting a woman. This is the most common modern usage, often carrying a somewhat old-fashioned, poetic, or rustic connotation. 2. (Archaic) A country youth, especially a young shepherd or farmhand. This original meaning is now rarely used outside of historical or literary contexts.
Usage
- The word "swain" is primarily used in literary, poetic, or humorous contexts. It sounds old-fashioned and is not common in everyday modern speech.
- It specifically refers to a man in a romantic context, similar to "beau," "suitor," or "boyfriend," but with a more rustic or quaint flavor.
Examples
- Noun (Suitor):
- The young swain brought flowers to his beloved every Sunday.
- In the poem, the lonely maiden awaits her faithful swain.
- (Humorous/Modern) She introduced the awkward fellow as her latest swain.
Advanced Usage
- "Young swain": A common collocation emphasizing the youth of the male admirer.
- The tale is about a young swain who wins the heart of a princess.
Variants and Related Words
- Swainish (adjective, archaic): Rustic, boorish, or characteristic of a country swain.
- His swainish manners were out of place at the formal ball.
Synonyms
- Suitor: A man who courts a woman.
- Beau: A boyfriend or male admirer (also somewhat old-fashioned).
- Lover: A partner in a sexual or romantic relationship.
- Boyfriend: A more common, modern equivalent.
Antonyms
- Maid/Maiden: A young unmarried woman (the traditional counterpart to a swain).
- Enemy: In a non-literal, contextual sense regarding romantic rivalry.
Related Idioms or Phrases
- (Archaic) "A swain in love": A standard literary phrase describing a lovesick young man.
- The painting depicted a swain in love, sighing beneath his lady's window.
Noun
- a man who is the lover of a girl or young woman
- if I'd known he was her boyfriend I wouldn't have asked