swift

[ swift ]
/ swɪft /

adjective, swift·er, swift·est.

adverb

swiftly.

noun

Origin of swift

before 900; Middle English (adj. and adv.), Old English (adj.); akin to Old English swīfan to revolve, Old Norse svīfa to rove; see swivel

SYNONYMS FOR swift

1 speedy. See quick.
2 expeditious.

OTHER WORDS FROM swift

swift·ly, adverb swift·ness, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH swift

fast quick rapid swift (see synonym study at quick)

Example sentences from the Web for swifter

British Dictionary definitions for swifter (1 of 3)

swifter
/ (ˈswɪftə) /

noun

nautical a line run around the ends of capstan bars to prevent their falling out of their sockets

Word Origin for swifter

C17: related to the nautical term swift to fasten with tight-drawn ropes; probably Scandinavian in origin: compare Old Norse svipta to reef

British Dictionary definitions for swifter (2 of 3)

swift
/ (swɪft) /

adjective

adverb

  1. swiftly or quickly
  2. (in combination)swift-moving

noun

Derived forms of swift

swiftly, adverb swiftness, noun

Word Origin for swift

Old English, from swīfan to turn; related to Old Norse svifa to rove, Old Frisian swīvia to waver, Old High German sweib a reversal; see swivel

British Dictionary definitions for swifter (3 of 3)

Swift
/ (swɪft) /

noun

Graham Colin. born 1949, English writer: his novels include Waterland (1983), Last Orders (1996), which won the Booker prize, and The Light of Day (2002)
Jonathan. 1667–1745, Anglo-Irish satirist and churchman, who became dean of St Patrick's, Dublin, in 1713. His works include A Tale of a Tub (1704) and Gulliver's Travels (1726)

Derived forms of Swift

Swiftian, adjective