Search the Dictionary

k. To swear by, to place great confidence in a person or thing; to trust implicitly as an authority. "I simply meant to ask if you are one of those who swear by Lord Verulam." Miss Edgeworth. -- To swear off, to make a solemn vow, or a serious resolution, to abstain from something; as, to swear off smoking. [Slang]…

Hence, the emblem of judicial vengeance or punishment, or of authority and power. He [the ruler] beareth not the sword in vain. Rom. xiii. 4. She quits the balance, and resigns the sword. Dryden.

An assembly or council having civil authority; a legislative body. It hath in solemn synods been decreed, Both by the Syracusians and ourselves, To admit no traffic to our adverse towns. Shak. Parent of gods and men, propitious Jove! And you, bright synod of the powers above. Dryden.

In a synodical manner; in a synod; by the authority of a synod. "Synodically agreed upon." R. Nelson.

to, a given person or thing under pain of death, -- an interdict of religious origin and authority, formerly common in the islands of Polynesia; interdiction. [Written also tabu.]

A charge, especially a pecuniary burden which is imposed by authority. Specifically: --

s of a state, by government, or on the members of a corporation or company, by the proper authority; the raising of revenue; also, a system of raising revenue.

ed as a place of public worship; a church. Can he whose life is a perpetual insult to the authority of God enter with any pleasure a temple consecrated to devotion and sanctified by prayer Buckminster.

l to save inviolate, or not to injure; -- with of. "Tender of property." Burke. The civil authority should be tender of the honor of God and religion. Tillotson.

idation. Humiliated by the tyranny of foreign despotism, and terrorized by ecclesiastical authority. J. A. Symonds.

ate by the immediate direction or administration of God; hence, the exercise of political authority by priests as representing the Deity.

are against me. Gen. xlii. 36. Which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. Matt. xxi. 24.

ign power and dignity; also, the one who occupies a throne, or is invested with sovereign authority; an exalted or dignified personage. Only in the throne will I be greater than thou. Gen. xli. 40. To mold a mighty state's decrees, And shape the whisper of the throne. Tennyson.

To hold or constrain by authority or moral influence, as by knotted cords; to oblige; to constrain; to restrain; to confine. Not tied to rules of policy, you find Revenge less sweet than a forgiving mind. Dryden.

Something given or shown as a symbol or guarantee of authority or right; a sign of authenticity, of power, good faith, etc. Say, by this token, I desire his company. Shak.

now called the Liberal, party; an earnest supporter of exsisting royal and ecclesiastical authority.

issued during the period 1833-1841, in which series of papers the sacramental system and authority of the Church, and the value of tradition, were brought into prominence. Also, a member of the High Church party, holding generally the principles of the Tractarian writers; a Puseyite.

rine that all religious faith is to be based solely upon what is delivered from competent authority, exclusive of rational processes.

One, among the Jews, who acknowledges the authority of traditions, and explains the Scriptures by them.

ces of revenue, takes charge of the same, and disburses it upon orders made by the proper authority; one who has charge of collected funds; as, the treasurer of a society or corporation. Lord high treasurer of England, formerly, the third great officer of the crown. His office is now executed by five persons styled the…