dwell Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb think moodily or anxiously about something
    brood.
  2. verb originate (in)
    lie in; consist; lie.
    • The problems dwell in the social injustices in this country
  3. verb inhabit or live in; be an inhabitant of
    live; inhabit; populate.
    • People lived in Africa millions of years ago
    • The people inhabited the islands that are now deserted
    • this kind of fish dwells near the bottom of the ocean
    • deer are populating the woods
  4. verb exist or be situated within
    inhabit.
    • Strange notions inhabited her mind
  5. verb come back to
    harp.
    • Don't dwell on the past
    • She is always harping on the same old things

WordNet

Dwell intransitive verb
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.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Dwelled usually contracted into Dwelt (); present participle & verbal noun Dwelling
Definitions
  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.
    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.
Dwell transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To inhabit. R. Milton.

Webster 1913