swifan

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *swībaną (“to move”), from Proto-Indo-European *swey- (“to swing, sweep, bend”). 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 1)

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: swiven
  • English: swive
• ⇒ Middle English: swift
  • English: swift