swerven

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Old English sweorfan, from Proto-Germanic *swerbaną; a cognate of Middle Low German swerven, Middle Dutch swerven, and Middle High German swerben.

Pronunciation

Verb

swerven

  1. To leave (from one's view); to rotate away from.
  2. To move or go unsteadily, unpredictably or erratically.
  3. To bounce off; to avoid (hitting someone)
  4. To repudiate or renounce; to end association with.
  5. (rare, of emotion) To stop being present or affecting one.

Conjugation

Conjugation of swerven (weak in -ed or strong class 3)
infinitive (to) swerven, swerve
present tense past tense
1st-person singular swerve swerved, swarf
2nd-person singular swervest swervedest, sworve, swarf
3rd-person singular swerveth swerved, swarf
subjunctive singular swerve swerved1, sworve1
imperative singular —
plural2 swerven, swerve swerveden, swervede, sworven, sworve
imperative plural swerveth, swerve —
participles swervynge, swervende swerved, sworven, sworve

1 Replaced by the indicative in later Middle English.
2 Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

  • *swerf, *swarf

Descendants

  • English: swerve, swarve
  • Scots: swerve, swarve, swerfe, swarfe

References

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