swines

English

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -aɪnz

Noun

swines

1. plural of swine
2. (obsolete) genitive of swine
   • 1597, John Gerard, The Herball..., volume III, page 1276:

     There is likewise made an ointment with the pulpe of Apples and Swines grease and Rose water, which is vsed to beautifie the face... called in shops Pomatum, of the Apples whereof it is made.

   • 1605 [1578], Josuah, transl. Sylvester, “The Third Day of the First Week”, in Devine Weekes and Workes, translation of La Premiere Sepmaine by Guillaume de Salluste Du Bartas, lines 693–696:

     Swines-bread, so used, doth not onely speed / A tardy labour; but (without great heed) / If over it a Child-great Woman stride, / Instant abortion often doth betide.

   • 1631, Francis [Bacon], “V. Century. [Experiments in Consort, Touching the Melioration of Fruits, Trees, and Plants.]”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], 3rd edition, London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC, paragraph 465, page 117:

     The Ancients for the Dulcorating of Fruit, doe commend Swines-dung aboue all other Dung; VVhich may be, becauſe of the Moiſture of that Beaſt, whereby the Excrement hath leſſe Acrimony; For we ſee Swines and Pigs Fleſh is the Moiſteſt of Fleſhes.

   • 1662, Jacques Olivier, translated by Richard Banke, A Discourse of Women, Shewing Their Imperfections Alphabetically, →OCLC, page 6:

     The sacred Scriptures […] called her a filthy Swine in reference to her Turpitudes. As a Jewel of Gold in a Swines Snout, so is a fair woman without discretion: a Dunghil for her Nastiness and Filthyness,

Usage notes

Swine is prescribed for “pigs” and swines for “contemptible people”.

Anagrams

• sewins, sinews, sweins, wisens