Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Swift
Swift
(swĭft)
, Adj.
[
Com
par.
Swifter
(swĭft′ẽr)
; sup
erl.
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. James i. 19.
Swift
of dispatch and easy of access. Dryden.
And bring upon themselves
swift
destruction. 2 Pet. ii. 1.
2.
Of short continuance; passing away quickly.
Shak.
☞ Swift is often used in the formation of compounds which are generally self-explaining; as, swift-darting, swift-footed, swift-winged, etc.
Syn. – Quick; fleet; speedy; rapid; expeditious.
Swift
,adv.
Swiftly.
[Obs. or Poetic]
Shak.
Ply
swift
and strong the oar. Southey.
Swift
,Noun.
1.
The current of a stream.
[R.]
Walton.
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. ☞ 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.
5.
[Cf.
Swivel
.] 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.
Webster 1828 Edition
Swift
SWIFT
, a.1.
Moving a great distance or over a large space in a short time; moving with celerity or velocity; fleet; rapid; quick; speedy. We say, soft winds, a swift stream, swift lightnings, swift motion, swift as thought, a fowl swift of wing, a man swift of foot. Swift is applicable to any kind of motion.2.
Ready; prompt. Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. James 1.
3.
Speedy; that comes without delay. There shall be false teachers among you, who shall privily bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 Pet.2.
SWIFT
,Noun.
1.
In domestic affairs, a reel or turning instrument for winding yarn. [This is a sense directly from the Saxon verb.]2.
A bird, a species of swallow, so called from the rapidity of its flight.3.
The common newt or eft, a species of lizard.