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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



... had gone into a swift current, and it was a long way from where I swam, and by degrees I began to find that I had rather miscalculated my strength. I was only lightly clad, but my clothes began to feel heavy, the banks to look a long way off, and the ...
— Mass' George - A Boy's Adventures in the Old Savannah • George Manville Fenn
... Squire into a fright; And though they stood prepar'd, with fatal 575 Impetuous rancour to join battel, Both thought it was the wisest course To wave the fight and mount to horse, And to secure by swift retreating, Themselves from danger of worse beating. 580 Yet neither of them would disparage, By utt'ring of his mind, his courage, Which made them stoutly keep their ground, With horror and ...
— Hudibras • Samuel Butler
... called the attention of the lingerers, and before any one knew, the passion of destruction had seized like a frenzy upon the people. They flung themselves upon the "glorious tabernacle," and all the statues and adornments, and laid them in swift and sudden ruin. The rumour flew through the town, along with the shouts and crash of metal and stone; and the remainder of the lately-dispersed multitude came rushing back to the church which was the scene of ...
— Royal Edinburgh - Her Saints, Kings, Prophets and Poets • Margaret Oliphant
... these, but ever full Of inspiration and significance. Now that your eyes are opened and you see, Your heart should take swift cognizance, and feel. How do these visions ...
— Bitter-Sweet • J. G. Holland
... preaching. For Mr. Brooks is not an orator such as Mr. Beecher is. He does not speak to people with people, as Mr. Beecher does; rather he speaks before them, in their presence. He soliloquizes. There is almost a minimum of mutual relation between speaker and hearer. Undoubtedly the swift, urgent monologue is quickened, reinforced, by the consciousness of an audience present. That consciousness, of course, penetrates to the mind of the speaker. But it does not dominate the speaker's mind; it does not turn monologue into dialogue; the ...
— Brave Men and Women - Their Struggles, Failures, And Triumphs • O.E. Fuller


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