Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

swerve

 - 3 dictionary results

swerve

  [swurv] ,verb, swerved, swerv⋅ing, noun
Use swerve in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to turn aside abruptly in movement or direction; deviate suddenly from the straight or direct course.
–verb (used with object)
2. to cause to turn aside: Nothing could swerve him.
–noun
3. an act of swerving; turning aside.
Origin:
1175–1225; ME swerven (v.); OE sweorfan to rub, file; c. D zwerven to rove, OHG swerban, ON sverfa to file, Goth afswairban to wipe off

Synonyms:
1. See deviate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To swerve
swerve   (swûrv)   
tr. & intr.v.   swerved, swerv·ing, swerves
To turn aside or be turned aside from a straight course.
n.  The act of swerving.

[Middle English swerven, from Old English sweorfan, to rub, scour.]
Synonyms: These verbs mean to turn away from a straight or prescribed course: a gaze that never swerved; won't depart from family traditions; deviated from the original plan; digressed from the main topic; opinions that diverged; strays from the truth; a conversation that veered away from sensitive issues.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

swerve 
c.1225, "to depart, make off;" c.1330, "to turn aside, deviate from a straight course," probably from O.E. sweorfan "to rub, scour, file" (but sense development is difficult to trace), from P.Gmc. *swerbanan (cf O.N. sverfa "to scour, file," O.S. swebran "to wipe off"), from PIE base *swerbh-. Cognate words in other Gmc. languages (cf. O.Fris. swerva "to creep," M.Du. swerven "to rove, stray") suggests the sense of "go off, turn aside" may have existed in O.E., though unrecorded. The noun is recorded from 1741.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see swerve on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way