From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Swallow \Swal"low\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Swallowed}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Swallowing}.] [OE. swolewen, swolwen, swolhen, AS.
swelgan; akin to D. zwelgen, OHG. swelahan, swelgan, G.
schwelgen to feast, to revel, Icel. svelgia to swallow, SW.
sv[aum]lja, Dan. svaelge. Cf. {Groundsel} a plant.]
1. To take into the stomach; to receive through the gullet,
or esophagus, into the stomach; as, to swallow food or
drink.
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As if I had swallowed snowballs for pills. --Shak.
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2. To draw into an abyss or gulf; to ingulf; to absorb --
usually followed by up. --Milton.
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The earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up,
and their houses. --Num. xvi.
32.
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3. To receive or embrace, as opinions or belief, without
examination or scruple; to receive implicitly.
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Though that story . . . be not so readily swallowed.
--Sir T.
Browne.
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4. To engross; to appropriate; -- usually with up.
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Homer excels . . . in this, that he swallowed up the
honor of those who succeeded him. --Pope.
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5. To occupy; to take up; to employ.
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The necessary provision of the life swallows the
greatest part of their time. --Locke.
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6. To seize and waste; to exhaust; to consume.
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Corruption swallowed what the liberal hand
Of bounty scattered. --Thomson.
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7. To retract; to recant; as, to swallow one's opinions.
"Swallowed his vows whole." --Shak.
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8. To put up with; to bear patiently or without retaliation;
as, to swallow an affront or insult.
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Syn: To absorb; imbibe; ingulf; engross; consume. See
{Absorb}.
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