[f. SWERVE v. + -ING2.] That swerves; deviating; making a swerve; diverted from the straight or right path; † erroneous.
1534. Whitinton, Tullyes Offices, II. (1540), 86. The more swaruyng [orig. versutior] and craftyer that a man is.
a. 1547. Surrey, Æneid, II. 283. The swarving axe when he [sc. a bull] shakes from his neck.
1549. Latimer, Ploughers (Arb.), 19. Not to a swaruinge fayeth, but to a fayeth that embraceth Christe.
a. 1638. Mede, Wks. (1672), 581. I dare not be confident that this Order and Series … is in no part thereof faulty and swerving.
1665. Bunyan, Holy Citie (1669), 50. All swerving and unsound opinions.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 453. The swerving Vines on the tall Elms prevail.
1815. Scott, Dance of Death, iii. Where held the cloak’d patrol their course, And spurr’d ’gainst storm the swerving horse.
1867. W. W. Smyth, Coal & Coal-mining, 77. In consequence of the swerving direction of a great east and west dislocation.
1898. Westm. Gaz., 21 Oct., 4/3. The swerving gallop of the polo-ponies. Ibid. (1903), 18 Aug., 3/1. Hirst proceeded to bowl us out, or, rather, get us caught … from that swerving ball of his.
1911. P. F. Warner, Cricket, 62. I have selected … Hirst as the fast ‘swerving’ left-hander.
