Dwell (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dwelled (?), usually contracted into Dwelt (); p. pr. & vb. n. Dwelling.] [OE. dwellen, dwelien, to err, linger, AS. dwellan to deceive, hinder, delay, dwelian to err; akin to Icel. dvelja to delay, tarry, Sw. dvaljas to dwell, Dan. dvaele to linger, and to E. dull. See Dull, and cf. Dwale.]
1.
To delay; to linger.
[Obs.]
2.
To abide; to remain; to continue.
I 'll rather dwell in my necessity.
Shak.
Thy soul was like a star and dwelt apart.
Wordsworth.
3.
To abide as a permanent resident, or for a time; to live in a place; to reside.
The parish in which I was born, dwell, and have possessions.
Peacham.
The poor man dwells in a humble cottage near the hall where the lord of the domain resides.
C. J. Smith.
To dwell in, to abide in (a place); hence, to depend on. "My hopes in heaven to dwell." Shak. -- To dwell on ∨ upon, to continue long on or in; to remain absorbed with; to stick to; to make much of; as, to dwell upon a subject; a singer dwells on a note.
They stand at a distance, dwelling on his looks and language, fixed in amazement.
Buckminster.
Syn. -- To inhabit; live; abide; sojourn; reside; continue; stay; rest.
© Webster 1913.
Dwell (?), v. t.
To inhabit.
[R.]
Milton.
© Webster 1913.