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noun B2 Upper-Intermediate

scythe

SYTH
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Scythe (noun) means a hand tool with a long curved blade on a long handle, used for cutting grass or grain. Example: “The farmer swung his scythe rhythmically across the field of wheat.”

noun
1
A hand tool with a long curved blade on a long handle, used for cutting grass or grain.
"The farmer swung his scythe rhythmically across the field of wheat."
verb
1
To cut grass or grain using a scythe, or to cut through something in a similar sweeping motion.
"He scythed the overgrown meadow before the fete."
"The car scythed through the crowd of parked bicycles."

How to use scythe

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA long-handled curved-blade tool for mowing, often pictured being carried by the personification of Death ("the Grim Reaper").

Common pairings
wield a scythe scythe through
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Word forms

Plural
scythes
Third person singular
scythes
Past tense
scythed
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The farmer swung his _____ rhythmically across the field of wheat.

Etymology

From Old English sithe/sigthe ("sickle"), related to the Proto-Germanic root for "saw." The spelling with a silent "c" was added later by mistaken association with Latin scindere ("to cut").

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for scythe

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Frequently asked questions

What does “scythe” mean?
The word “scythe” means a hand tool with a long curved blade on a long handle, used for cutting grass or grain. In plain terms, a long-handled curved-blade tool for mowing, often pictured being carried by the personification of Death ("the Grim Reaper").
How do you pronounce “scythe”?
“Scythe” is pronounced SYTH (/ˈsaɪð/ in IPA).
How do you use “scythe” in a sentence?
Here is “scythe” used in a sentence: “The farmer swung his scythe rhythmically across the field of wheat.”
What part of speech is “scythe”?
Depending on how it is used, “scythe” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “scythe” come from?
The word “scythe” comes from Latin. From Old English sithe/sigthe ("sickle"), related to the Proto-Germanic root for "saw." The spelling with a silent "c" was added later by mistaken association with Latin scindere ("to cut").
How many meanings does “scythe” have?
“Scythe” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a hand tool with a long curved blade on a long handle, used for cutting grass or grain.

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