Dwell

/dwɛl/ verb

Definition

To live in or at a specified place; to think, speak, or write at length about a particular subject.

Etymology

From Old English dwellan meaning 'to lead astray, hinder, delay'. Originally meant 'to linger' or 'tarry', evolving by 13th century to mean 'remain in a place'. The shift from temporary delay to permanent residence reflects changing settlement patterns.

Kelly Says

Fascinatingly, 'dwell' originally meant the opposite of settling down - it meant to wander or delay! The semantic shift mirrors human history: as societies became less nomadic, the concept of 'lingering' in a place transformed into 'living' there permanently.

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