Chiefly poet. [f. SWEEP sb. or v. + -Y.] Characterized by sweeping movement or form; sweeping.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., I. 651. The King of Floods … rowling onward, with a sweepy Sway, Bore Houses, Herds, and lab’ring Hinds away. Ibid. (1700), Ovid’s Met., Acis, Pol. & Galatea, 127. The sweepy weight Of Ews that sink beneath the Milky fraight.
1722. W. Hamilton, Wallace, 116. Bars, Bolts, and brazen Hinges … tumbl’d down before the sweepy Stroke.
1725. Pope, Odyss., IV. 644. The Nile, who from the secret source Of Jove’s high seat descends with sweepy force.
1790. A. Wilson, Thunderstorm, Poet. Wks. (1846), 33. Hail furious flew and sweepy light’ning shone.
1821. Joanna Baillie, Metr. Leg., Columbus, xvi. Groves, where each dome of sweepy leaves In air of morning gently heaves.
1821. T. G. Wainewright, Ess. & Crit. (1880), 184. His lines are flowing and sweepy.
1850. Browning, Christmas Eve, viii. 9. I saw the back of Him—no more:… No face only the sight Of a sweepy garment, vast and white.
