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The condition of a swain.

Two;- nearly obsolete in common discourse, but used in poetry and burlesque. "Children twain." Chaucer. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Matt. v. 41. In twain, in halves; into two parts; asunder. When old winder split the rocks in twain. Dryden. -- Twain cloud. (Meteor.) Same as Cumulo-s…

To rend in twain; to tear in two. [Obs.] Skelton.

ent to; as, a measure attended with ill effects. What cares must then attend the toiling swain. Dryden.

In two; in twain; asunder. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Of humble birth; or low degree; lowly; mean. [Archaic] "A pleasant and base swain." Bacon.

Turn; purpose; inclination; ends. [Obs.] Farewell, poor swain; thou art not for my bend. Fletcher.

st; the dog bit a man. Such smiling rogues as these, Like rats, oft bite the holy cords atwain. Shak.

See Boatswain. [Obs.] Dryden.

A whistle or pipe, used by the boatswain and his mate, to summon the sailors to duty.

The stars also called Charles's Wain, the Great Bear, or the Dipper. The Pleiads, Hyads, and the Northern Car. Dryden.

A jovial feast or festival; a drunken revel; a carouse. The swains were preparing for a carousal. Sterne.

part or divide by force; to split or rive; to cut. O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain. Shak.

A cordwainer. [Obs.]

Same as Cordwain. in England the name is applied to leather made from horsehide.

the separation of a junction; a cleft; a fissure; a rent. The mouse, Behind the moldering wainscot, shrieked, Or from the crevice peered about. Tennyson.

body of men associated for a purpose; a gang; as (Naut.), the carpenter's crew; the boatswain's crew.

ed when a narrow ribbon of veneer is inserted into the surfase of any piece of furniture, wainscoting, etc., so that the grain of it is contrary to the general surface.

leap rhytmically. Jack shall pipe and Gill shall dance. Wiher. Good shepherd, what fair swain is this Which dances with your dauther Shak.

ularly so called from their arrangement in the form of a dipper; -- called also Charles's Wain. See Ursa Major, under Ursa.