What does "scythe" mean?
An instrument for mowing grass, grain, etc. by hand, composed of a long, curving blade with a sharp concave edge, fastened to a long handle called a snath.
Scythe
/ˈsaɪð/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An instrument for mowing grass, grain, etc. by hand, composed of a long, curving blade with a sharp concave edge, fastened to a long handle called a snath.
- Grammar: scythe is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: crescent, death symbol, edge tool, grass cutter.
- Useful contrasts: cultivate, flail, life symbol.
- Usage evidence: "It's war," said the Grim Reaper and put his scythe aside to get onto the combine harvester.
How to use "scythe"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "scythe" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "scythe" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "scythe" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "scythe" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "scythe" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "crescent" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "scythe", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An instrument for mowing grass, grain, etc. by hand, composed of a long, curving blade with a sharp concave edge, fastened to a long handle called a snath.
"And nothing 'gainst Time's scythe can make defence Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence."
- 2 an edge tool for cutting grass; has a long handle that must be held with both hands and a curved blade that moves parallel to the ground wordnet
- 3 A scythe-shaped blade attached to ancient war chariots. historical
- 4 The tenth Lenormand card.
Verb
- 1 To use a scythe. intransitive
- 2 cut with a scythe wordnet
- 3 To cut with a scythe. transitive
- 4 To cut off as with a scythe; to mow. transitive
- 5 To attack or injure as if cutting. figuratively, intransitive, often
"The boy began to keen, and the high-pitched noise scythed through Song's head."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
""It's war," said the Grim Reaper and put his scythe aside to get onto the combine harvester."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "scythe"?
Common synonyms include: crescent, death symbol, edge tool, grass cutter, half moon, harvest.
How do you use "scythe" in a sentence?
"It's war," said the Grim Reaper and put his scythe aside to get onto the combine harvester.
How do you pronounce "scythe"?
Pronounced /ˈsaɪð/.
Etymology
From Middle English sythe, sithe, from Old English sīþe, sīgþe, sigdi (“sickle”), from Proto-West Germanic *sigiþi, from Proto-Germanic *sigiþiz, *sigiþō, derived from *seg- (“saw”), from Proto-Indo-European *sek- (“to cut”). Immediate Germanic cognates include Middle Low German sēgede, Dutch zicht, Icelandic sigð (all “sickle”). More distantly related with Dutch zeis, German Sense (both “scythe”). Also akin to English saw, which see. The silent c crept in during the early 15th century owing to pseudoetymological association with Medieval Latin scissor (“tailor, carver”), from Latin scindere (“to cut, rend, split”). The verb, which was first used in the intransitive sense, is from the noun.