swifan

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *swībaną (“to move”). Cognate with Old Frisian swīva, swīfa (“to waver”), Old Norse svífa (“to drift, ramble, rove”), Gothic 𐍃𐍅𐌴𐌹𐌱𐌰𐌽 (sweiban).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈswiː.fɑn/, [ˈswiː.vɑn]

Verb

swīfan

  1. to move in a course, revolve
  2. to sweep
  3. to intervene

Conjugation

Conjugation of swīfan (strong, class I)
infinitive swīfan swīfenne
indicative mood present tense past tense
first person singular swīfe swāf
second person singular swīfst swife
third person singular swīfþ swāf
plural swīfaþ swifon
subjunctive present tense past tense
singular swīfe swife
plural swīfen swifen
imperative
singular swīf
plural swīfaþ
participle present past
swīfende (ġe)swifen

Descendants

  • Middle English: swyven, swyve, swyfe (Northern)
    • English: swive
    • Middle Scots: swyfe, swyve
  • ⇒ Middle English: swift
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