Dwell, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dwelled, usually contracted into Dwelt (p. pr. & vb. n. Dwelling.]
Etymology: [OE. dwellen, dwelien, to err, linger, AS. dwellan to deceive, hinder, delay, dwelian to err; akin to Icel. dvelja to delay, tarry, Sw. dväljas to dwell, Dan. dvæle 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 or 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.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Dwell, v. t.
To inhabit. [R.] Milton.