Swallow-wort

SWAL'LOW-WORT, n. A plant of the genus Asclepias; hirundinaria. It grows in the southern part of Europe, and is said to have been successfully used as a medicine, chiefly in dropsical cases.
The African swallow-wort is of the genus Stapelia.
SWAL'LOW, v.t.
1. To take into the stomach; to receive through the gullet or oesophagus into the stomach; as, to swallow food or drink. Food should be well chewed before it is swallowed.
2. To absorb; to draw and sink into an abyss or gulf; to ingulf; usually followed by up. The Malstrom off the coast of Norway, it is said, will swallow up a ship.
In bogs swallow'd up and lost.
The earth opened and swallowed them up. Num 16.
3. To receive or embrace, as opinions or belief, without examination or scruple; to receive implicitly.
4. To engross; to appropriate.
Homer--has swallowed up the honor of those who succeeded him.
5. To occupy; to employ.
The necessary provision of life swallows the greatest part of their time.
6. To seize and waste.
Corruption swallow'd what the liberal hand
Of bounty scatter'd.
7. To engross; to engage completely.
The priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink; they are swallowed up of wine. Isa 28.
8. To exhaust; to consume. His expenses swallow up all his income.
SWAL'LOW, n. The gullet or oesophagus; the throat.
1. Voracity.
2. As much as is swallowed at once.

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