swift

English Online Dictionary. What means swift‎? What does swift mean?

English

Etymology

From Middle English swift, from Old English swift (“swift; quick”), from Proto-Germanic *swiftaz (“swift; quick”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)weyp- (“to twist; wind around”). Cognate with Icelandic svipta (“to pull quickly”), Old English swīfan (“to revolve, sweep, wend, intervene”). More at swivel.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /swɪft/
• Homophone: Swift
• Rhymes: -ɪft

Adjective

swift (comparative swifter, superlative swiftest)

1. Fast; quick; rapid.
2. Capable of moving at high speeds.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Noun

swift (plural swifts)

1. A small plain-colored bird of the family Apodidae that resembles a swallow and is noted for its rapid flight.

   Synonyms: needletail, spinetail, swiftlet

2. Any of certain lizards of the genus Sceloporus.

   Synonym: fence lizard, spiny lizard
3. (entomology) A moth of the family Hepialidae, swift moth, ghost moth.
4. (entomology) Any of various fast-flying hesperiid butterflies.
5. (textiles) A light, collapsible reel used to hold a hank of yarn in order to wind off skeins or balls.
6. The main cylinder of a carding-machine.
7. (obsolete) The current of a stream.

Derived terms

Translations

Adverb

swift (comparative more swift, superlative most swift)

1. (obsolete, poetic) Swiftly.

Synonyms

• swith

Derived terms

Old English

Etymology

From the verb swīfan.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /swift/

Adjective

swift (comparative swiftra, superlative swiftost)

1. swift, quick

Declension

Derived terms

• swiftlīċe
• swiftnes

Descendants

• English: swift