dwell
/dwΙl/
Definition
To live somewhere as your home; also, to think or talk about something for a long time.
Example
Try not to dwell on mistakes you made in the past.
Show translation
Try not to dwell on mistakes you made in the past.
Etymology
From Old English *dwellan*, meaning "to lead astray, hinder, delay." Over time it shifted to mean "to remain in a place" and later "to linger in thought." Related to the archaic noun *dwelling* (a home), which remains in common use today.
Cultural note
In everyday modern English, *dwell* is most often heard in the phrase "don't dwell on it," used to encourage someone to stop overthinking a problem or regret. The noun *dwelling* (meaning a home or residence) is more formal and appears in legal, real-estate, and literary contexts.