SWAIN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does swain mean? 

• SWAIN (noun)
  The noun SWAIN has 1 sense:

1. a man who is the lover of a man or woman

  Familiarity information: SWAIN used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SWAIN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A man who is the lover of a man or woman

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

beau; boyfriend; fellow; swain

Context example:

When the law changed, Pet could finally married his long-time boyfriend Jim

Hypernyms ("swain" is a kind of...):

lover (a person who loves someone or is loved by someone)

adult male; man (an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman))

 Context examples 

I saw a poor fellow at the inn here—it was some years ago—who showed us his back in the tap-room, all cut into red diamonds with the boat-swain’s whip.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He merely sprang to the side and ran stiffly ahead for several awkward leaps, in carriage and conduct resembling an abashed country swain.

(White Fang, by Jack London)