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Swift   /swɪft/   Listen
adjective
Swift  adj.  (compar. swifter; superl. swiftest)  
1.
Moving a great distance in a short time; moving with celerity or velocity; fleet; rapid; quick; speedy; prompt. "My beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." "Swift of dispatch and easy of access." "And bring upon themselves swift destruction."
2.
Of short continuance; passing away quickly. Note: Swift is often used in the formation of compounds which are generally self-explaining; as, swift-darting, swift-footed, swift-winged, etc.
Synonyms: Quick; fleet; speedy; rapid; expeditious.



noun
Swift  n.  
1.
The current of a stream. (R.)
2.
(Zool.) Any one of numerous species of small, long-winged, insectivorous birds of the family Micropodidae. In form and habits the swifts resemble swallows, but they are destitute of complex vocal muscles and are not singing birds, but belong to a widely different group allied to the humming birds. Note: The common European swift (Cypselus apus syn. Micropus apus) nests in church steeples and under the tiles of roofs, and is noted for its rapid flight and shrill screams. It is called also black martin, black swift, hawk swallow, devil bird, swingdevil, screech martin, and shriek owl. The common American, or chimney, swift (Chaetura pelagica) has sharp rigid tips to the tail feathers. It attaches its nest to the inner walls of chimneys, and is called also chimney swallow. The Australian swift (Chaetura caudacuta) also has sharp naked tips to the tail quills. The European Alpine swift (Cypselus melba) is whitish beneath, with a white band across the breast. The common Indian swift is Cypselus affinis. See also Palm swift, under Palm, and Tree swift, under Tree.
3.
(Zool.) Any one of several species of lizards, as the pine lizard.
4.
(Zool.) The ghost moth. See under Ghost.
5.
A reel, or turning instrument, for winding yarn, thread, etc.; used chiefly in the plural.
6.
The main card cylinder of a flax-carding machine.



adverb
Swift  adv.  Swiftly. (Obs. or Poetic) "Ply swift and strong the oar."






Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48








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"Swift" Quotes from Famous Books



... religious history. The series forms, in fact, a painted novella of monastic life; its petty jealousies, its petty trials, its tribulations and temptations, and its indescribably petty miracles. Bazzi was well fitted for the execution of this task. He had a swift and facile brush, considerable versatility in the treatment of monotonous subjects, and a never-failing sense of humour. His white-cowled monks, some of them with the rosy freshness of boys, some with the handsome brown faces of middle life, others astute and crafty, ...
— New Italian sketches • John Addington Symonds

... dust of pleading by certain sprinklings which Huntington Jackson, another ex-soldier, and I managed to contrive together. A little later in the day, in Bob Morse's, I saw a real writ, acquired a practical conviction of the difference between assumpsit and trover, and marvelled open-mouthed at the swift certainty with which a master of his ...
— Modern Eloquence: Vol II, After-Dinner Speeches E-O • Various

... a quick glance he shot over, but I caught who it was aimed at. Also, I noticed the effect. And just like that I had a swift hunch how all this ground-floor mix-up might be ...
— Wilt Thou Torchy • Sewell Ford

... to each other, took a swift survey, and made up their minds before David had poked the fire. Christie saw a pretty face with rosy cheeks, blue eyes, and brown rings of hair lying on the smooth, low forehead; a young face, but not childlike, ...
— Work: A Story of Experience • Louisa May Alcott

... swift and easy for the body," said the unfortunate Princess, "were it but a safe and happy change for the soul, the woman lives not that would take the step so soon as I—But, alas! Melville, when we think of death, a thousand sins, which we have trod as worms beneath our feet, ...
— The Abbot • Sir Walter Scott


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