Also 1, 4–6 swyft, 1, 3–4 (6 Sc.) suift, 4–6 swifte, 5–6 swyfte, (4 sweft, sweyft, squift, Ayenb. zuift, zuyft, 4–5 squyft(e, 5 suyfte, sqwyft(e, swyfht, 6 swiyft), Sc. swuft, swofte, suofte, (7 suifte, Anglo-Ir. shwift(e). [OE. swift:—prehistoric *swipt-, repr. Indo-eur. root (swoib-) sweib-, swib-: (swoip-), sweip-, swip- to move in a sweeping manner (see SWOPE v. and SWIVE v.) with ppl. suffix -to-. The relations of the following phonologically equivalent forms to each other and to this word are not determinable: WFris. swift adj. restless, disturbed, stormy, swift sb. worthless fellow, swindler, LG. swift small lean person, Sw. dial. swift speedy, swift (cf. sviftande instantaneous movement).]
1. ‘Moving far in a short time’ (J.); moving, or capable of moving, with great speed or velocity; going quickly or at a great rate; rapid, fleet.
Beowulf, 2264 (Gr.). Se swifta mearh.
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxvi. § 3. Ic hæbbe swiðe swifte feþera, þæt ic mæʓ flioʓan ofer þone hean hrof þæs heofones.
c. 1205. Lay., 5902. Þa oðere weoren swifte [c. 1275 swihte], heore wepnen weoren lihte. Ibid., 26068. Ardur wes swiftre and of-toc þene eotend.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 17288 + 186 (Cott.). Peter & Iohne to-geder ran … But Iohne was þe swifter.
a. 1366[?]. Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 949. The swiftest of these Arowis fyue.
c. 1375. Cursor M., 3730 (Fairf.). Goddote Am I noȝt so squyft on fote.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 119. The grete hert … Whiche swifte feet sette upon grounde. Ibid., II. 328. A Swalwe swift of winge.
c. 1450. Holland, Howlat, 138. The Swallowe so swyft.
1533. Gau, Richt Vay, 66. Our bodis sal be na mair hewy or sweir bot swuft.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 91. Swiftnes of fute, in quhilke thay walde ouirrin the swoftest horse.
1628. Milton, Vac. Exerc., 96. Severn swift, guilty of Maidens death. Ibid. (1667), P. L., I. 326. His swift pursuers.
1696. Phillips (ed. 5), s.v., A Planet is said to be swift in Motion, when by its own proper Diurnal Motion, he moves farther than his mean Diurnal Motion.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 7 March 1690. A vessell … built with low decks,… and … so light and swift of sailing, that [etc.].
1784. Cowper, Task, III. 325. Delights which who would leave … For all the savage din of the swift pack, And clamours of the field?
1843. G. P. R. James, Forest Days, iii. They watched the swift fish darting along the stream.
1852. Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., xvii. 161. I will … engage him to come behind on his swift nag.
in similative and proverbial phrases.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 196. Vre widerwines beoð swifture þen þe earnes.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 199. Grehoundes he hadde, as swift as fowel in flight.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 5024. Present tyme abidith nought, It is more swift than any thought.
1560. Bible (Geneva), Eccl. ix. 11. The race is not to the swift, nor the ballel to the strong.
a. 1593. Marlowe, trans. Lucan, I. 231. Swifter then bullets throwne from Spanish slinges.
1599. Porter, Angry Wom. Abingt. (Percy Soc.), 41. A swift horse will tier, but he that trottes easilie will indure.
1692. Prior, Ode Imit. Hor., vi. Fate has swifter Wings than Fear.
b. Of movement, or action regarded as movement: Taking place or executed at high speed; rapid, quick.
a. 1050. Wærferth’s Gregory’s Dial., II. vii. 115. He … mid swiftum [earlier version færlicum] ryne eft ʓecyrde.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., III. xvii. (1495), d iv/2. An oore yt semyth broken in ye water for swyft meuinge of ye water.
a. 1542. Wyatt, Song of Iopas, 15. With great swift sway, the first [= primum mobile] … Carieth it self.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., I. i. 119. Troy. But to the sport abroad, are you bound thither? Æne. In ail swift hast.
1634. Milton, Comus, 114. The Starry Quire, Who … Lead in swift round the Months and Years.
1662. Playford, Skill Mus., I. x. (1674), 33. This Mood … is of two Motions, the one slow, the other more swift.
1784. Cowper, Task, I. 139. That play of lungs … Respiring freely the fresh air, that makes Swift pace or steep ascent no toil to me.
1851. Carlyle, Sterling, I. iv. A swift but not very legible or handsome penmanship.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., II. x. 279. The non-coincidence of the point of swiftest motion with the centre of the glacier.
1867. Augusta Wilson, Vashti, xii. The swift clicking of her knitting-needles.
2. Coming on, happening, or performed without delay; prompt, speedy.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 618. Se miccla Godes dæʓ is swiðe ʓehende and ðearle swyft.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XI. 370. Suffraunce is a souereyne vertue, And a swyfte veniaunce.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., IV. iii. 107. Make a swift returne, For I would commone with you of such things, That want no eare but yours.
1667. Milton, P. L., V. 907. Those proud Towrs to swift destruction doom’d.
1697. Dryden, Æneid, VIII. 230. And, when to Morrow’s Sun reveals the Light, With swift Supplies you shall be sent away.
1755. Wesley, Prim. Physick, p. xxi. (Postscr.). It was a great Surprize to the Editor of the following Collection, that there was so swift and large a Demand for it.
1870. Dickens, E. Drood, iii. She looks up at him with a swift bright look.
1904. R. C. Jebb, Bacchylides (Proc. Brit. Acad.), 15. This art of swift transition … was one which Pindar seems to have regarded as peculiarly his own.
b. Acting, or disposed to act, without delay; prompt, ready. Usually const. to with inf. or sb.
1340. Ayenb., 141. Efterward þe milde is wel zuift and wel ingnel.
1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 792. He es swyft to spek on his manere.
1382. Wyclif, Jas. i. 19. Be ech man swift for to here, forsothe slowe for to speke.
c. 1477. Caxton, Jason, 47 b. Ye ben hasty & moche swift in your werkes.
c. 1586. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. LXXXVI. v. Thou, Jehova, swift to grace.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 633. He … To mischief swift.
1681. Dryden, Abs. & Achit., 191. Swift of Dispatch and easie of Access.
1784. Cowper, Task, II. 251. All were swift to follow whom all lov’d.
1827. Scott, Surg. Dau., ii. Richard is not swift,… but then he is sure.
1847. Helps, Friends in C., I. 11. Let us not be swift to imagine that lies are never of any service.
1855. Kingsley, Westw. Ho! xxxiii. Crafty of counsel, and swift of execution.
3. Done or finished within a short time; passing quickly, of short continuance, that is soon over, brief. Chiefly poet.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 2156. Þis swifte pine, þet aswikeð se sone.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., I. i. 144. Swift, as a shadowe; short, as any dreame. Ibid. (1608), Per., III. i. 13. Lucina,… make swift the pangues Of my Queenes trauayles!
1611. Bible, Job vii. 6. My dayes are swifter then a weauers shuttle.
1820. Shelley, Sensit. Pl., III. 22. Swift Summer into the Autumn flowed. Ibid. (1821), Epithal., 7. Hence, swift hour! and thy loved flight Oft renew.
1848. A. B. Evans, Leicestersh. Words, Swift, fast consuming: ‘The Snibston coal is very swift.’
B. adv. (Now chiefly poet.)
1. = SWIFTLY 1.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., C. 108. He swenges me þys swete schip swefte fro þe hauen.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 13299. Full swift to the swalgh me swinget the flode.
c. 1430. Chev. Assigne, 113. Thenne an hynde kome fro þe woode rennynge fulle swyfte.
1596. in Spalding Club Misc., I. 85. Thow … rann … alss swoft, as apperit to him, as ane arrow culd be schot furth of ane bow.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., II. iii. 277. Light Botes may saile swift, though greater bulkes draw deepe.
1667. Milton, P. L., III. 714. Swift to thir several Quarters hasted then The cumbrous Elements.
1729. Swift, Lett. Irish Coal, 23 Oct. The latter [sc. Irish coal] consumed away very swift in a blaze.
a. 1774. Goldsm., Surv. Exp. Philos. (1776), II. 224. Wood rubbed very swift with a circular motion takes fire.
1781. Cowper, Retirem., 435. Then swift descending with a seaman’s haste.
1852. Thackeray, Esmond, I. xiii. A light chaise … running as swift … as a Laplander’s sledge.
2. = SWIFTLY 2, 3.
† Soft swift: ‘not so fast’; ‘don’t be too hasty.’
c. 1375. Cursor M., 341 (Fairf.). Al his comandement was done Squyfter [Cott. suiftliker] þan any eye may wynke.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., III. ii. 199. My eyes my Lord can looke as swift as yours.
1597. Morley, Introd. Mus., 123. Soft swift, you who are so ready to find faultes, I pray you let vs see howe you can mend them.
1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 190. A noble stroke … Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell On the proud Crest of Satan, that [etc.].
1808. Scott, Marm., VI. xxii. Himself he swift on horseback threw.
¶ Hyphened to pres. pple. and occas. to a finite part of a verb, on the analogy of combs. in C. 3.
1727. Thomson, Summer, 490 [588]. Swift-shrinking back, I stand aghast.
1729. Savage, Wanderer, II. 371. The Roof swift-kindles from the beaming Ground.
1735. Somerville, Chase, I. 109. To rein the Steed Swift-stretching o’er the Plain.
1820. Keats, Lamia, I. 116. She … Blush’d a live damask, and swift-lisping said [etc.].
1887. Morris, Odyssey, XI. 5. Pouring the tear-drops swift-following each on each.
C. Combinations, etc.
1. Special collocations of the adj.: swift cut = speedy cut (SPEEDY 7); also in names of species of animals distinguished by swift running or flight, as swift lizard, snake, swallow, tern.
1725. Bradley’s Fam. Dict., II. 5 Y 4 b/2. If Scabs be under his Knee on the inside, it is the *Swift-Cut, and he will illy endure galloping.
1802. Shaw, Gen. Zool., III. I. 251. *Swift Lizard. Lacerta Velox. Ibid., II. 510. *Swift Snake. Coluber Cursor.
1601. Holland, Pliny, XI. xlvii. I. 351. That Martinets have feet: like as also the *swift Swallow called Oce.
1817. Stephens, in Shaw’s Gen. Zool., X. I. 97. Swift Swallow (Hirundo Velox).
1889. H. Saunders, Man. Brit. Birds, 640. The *Swift Tern. S[terna] bergii of Lichtenstein (S. velox of Rüppell).
2. Combs. of the adj.: parasynthetic, as swift-fated, -handed, -heeled (= SWIFT-FOOTED), -hoofed († -hoved), -paced, -streamed, -tongued; also † swift-flight a., flying swiftly; with other adjs., expressing a combination of two qualities, as swift-frightful, -slow. Also † swift horse running, horse-racing.
1723. Blackmore, Alfred, III. 559. The *swift-finn’d Racers of the Flood.
1592. Soliman & Pers., I. iii. 42. To change a bullet with our *swift flight shot.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. V. vi. A thing so incalculable, *swift-frightful. Ibid. (1840), Heroes, ii. A *swift-handed, deep-hearted race of men.
1634. Habington, Castara, I. (Arb.), 43. No suppliant breath Stayes the speed of *swift-heel’d death.
1702. Congreve, Ode to Ld. Godolphin, viii. Varying anon her Theme, she takes Delight The swift-heel’d Horse to praise.
1615. Chapman, Odyss., VI. 149. In the wilde Bores chace; Or *swift-hou’d Hart.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xxxix. 9. Halking, hunting and *swift horss rynning.
1598. Bp. Hall, Sat., IV. iii. 52. Say’st thou this Colt shall proue a *swift-pac’d steed Only because a Iennet did him breed?
1716. Loyal Mourner, 69. From swift-paced Time’s destructive Power free.
1870. Bryant, Iliad, II. XIV. 59. For much he feared to offend the swift-paced Night.
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. i. I. Eden, 226. Painfull griefes, whose *swift-slow posting pase … our dying life doth chase.
1594. Selimus, 2407. Leaving the banks of *swift-stream’d Thermodon.
1746. Francis, trans. Hor., Sat., I. vii. 10. The *swift-tongued Barrus.
3. Combs. of the adv. with pples., as swift-advancing, -burning, -declining, -flowing, -flying, -gliding, -posting, -recurring, -revenging, -running, -rushing, -sliding, -starting, -stealing, -swimming.
1859. Geo. Eliot, A. Bede, xxxv. Not knowing where to turn for refuge from *swift-advancing shame.
1834–5. J. Phillips, Geol., in Encycl. Metrop. (1845), VI. 592/2. *Swift-burning thick coals.
1590. Greene, Orl. Fur., I. i. To Tanuis, whose *swift declining flouds [etc.].
1848. Buckley, Iliad, 97. A *swift-flowing river.
1605. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iii. III. Law, 62. A *swift-flying Fame, Which (lately but) from stately Memphis came.
1871. Longf., Div. Trag., I. ix. 70. The swift-flying vapours hid themselves In caverns.
1715. Pope, Iliad, III. 17. *Swift-gliding mists the dusky fields invade.
1610. Drayton, Leg. Robt. Normandie, xliii. Times *swift posting hours [edd. 1605, 1608 times ne’r-turning howres].
1841. Browning, Pippa Passes, I. 278. At *swift-recurring intervals.
1590. Greene, Orl. Fur., V. i. And neuer sheath thy *swift reuenging swoorde Till … The highest mountaines swimme in streames of bloud.
1538. Elyot, Alipedes, *swyfte runnynge horses.
1833. J. Rennie, Alph. Angling, 59. The fish more peculiar to swift-running waters.
1625. Milton, Death Fair Inf., 67. To turn *Swift-rushing black perdition hence.
a. 1618. Sylvester, Spectacles, v. Yon silver Brooks,… Whose smooth *swift-sliding pase Still, still roules down apace.
1596. Edw. III., IV. vii. 2. *Swift starting feare Hath buzd a cold dismaie through all our armie.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., I. ii. 16. I hope to … hear, That the English Mariner will make better use of *swift-stealing Time.
1888. Goode, Amer. Fishes, 78. It is a *swift-swimming fish.
