dwell

Meaning

Noun

1. A period of time in which a system or component remains in a given state.
2. A brief pause in the motion of part of a mechanism to allow an operation to be completed.
3. A planned delay in a timed control program.
4. In a petrol engine, the period of time the ignition points are closed to let current flow through the ignition coil in between each spark. This is measured as an angle in degrees around the camshaft in the distributor which controls the points, for example in a 4-cylinder engine it might be 55° (spark at 90° intervals, points closed for 55° between each).

Verb

1. (intransitive, literary) To live; to reside.
2. (intransitive) To linger (on); to remain fixated.
3. (intransitive) To be in a given state.
4. (intransitive) To abide; to remain; to continue.

Synonyms

live

reside

inhabit

stay

abide

lodge

remain

sit

🪑

settle

occupy

exist

be

populate

rest

brood

live in

stop

🛑

lie

reside in

be lodged

consist

domicile

wait

live at

haunt

place

harp

harbour

lie in

room

hang out

go

further

found

bow

🙇

affirm

foment

feminine

♀️

bide

lie down

lend

domiciliate

be situated

advance

ive

insist

incubate

continue

bear

🐻

hurry

Translations

habiter

wohnen

habitar

wonen

habitar

morar

morar

abitare

demeurer

dimorare

hausen

leben

resideren

residir

Pronounced as (IPA)

/dwɛl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: dwellen

Inherited from Old English: dwellan

Cognate with Old Norse: dvelja

In summary

From Middle English dwellen (“delay, live, remain, persist”), from Old English dwellan (“to mislead, deceive; be led into error, stray”), from Proto-Germanic *dwaljaną (“to hold up, delay; hesitate”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰwelH- (“to whirl, swirl, blur, obfuscate”), which is cognate with Old Norse dvelja and related to Proto-Germanic *dwelaną (“to go astray”), which underwent semantic change in its descendants. Cognates include Danish dvæle (“to linger, dwell”) and Swedish dväljas (“to dwell, reside”).