noun
swain
swayn
noun
1
A young man courting a woman, especially in an old-fashioned or poetic, rural setting.
"The poem describes a swain pining for his sweetheart in the meadow."
2
Archaic: a country labourer or peasant.
"The old ballad tells of a swain tending sheep on the hillside."
How to Use Swain
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old-fashioned, poetic word for a young male suitor or country lad.
When to use it
Archaic and literary — you would not use this in ordinary modern speech.
Word Forms
swains plural, Swains plural
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The poem describes a _____ pining for his sweetheart in the meadow.
Etymology
From Old Norse sveinn, "young man, servant" — related to Swedish sven.