dwell

DWELL, verb intransitive preterit tense dwelled, usually contracted into dwelt. [See Dally.]1. To abide as a permanent resident, or to inhabit for a time; to live in a place; to have a habitation for some time or permanence.God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem. Genesis 9:27.DWELL imports a residence of some continuance. We use abide for the resting of a night or an hour; but we never say, he dwelt in a place a day or a night. dwell may signify a residence for life or for a much shorter period, but not for a day. In scripture, it denotes a residence of seven days during the feast of tabernacles.Ye shall dwell in booths seven days. Leviticus 23:42.The word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. John 1:38.2. To be in any state or condition; to continue.To dwell in doubtful joy.3. To continue; to be fixed in attention; to hang upon with fondness.The attentive queen dwelt on his accents.They stand at a distance, dwelling on his looks and language, fixed in amazement.4. To continue long; as, to dwell on a subject, in speaking, debate or writing; to dwell on a note in music.DWELL, as a verb transitive, is not used. We who dwell this wild, in Milton, is not a legitimate phrase