01 v. i. To stray; to wander; to rope.
imp. & p. p.
Swerved; p. pr. & vb. n.
Swerving
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1.
To stray; to wander; to rope.[Obs.]“A maid thitherward did run, To catch her sparrow which from her did swerve.” — Sir P. Sidney.
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2.
To go out of a straight line; to deflect.
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3.
To wander from any line prescribed, or from a rule or duty; to depart from what is established by law, duty, custom, or the like; to deviate.“I swerve not from thy commandments.” — Bk. of Com. Prayer.“They swerve from the strict letter of the law.” — Clarendon.“Many who, through the contagion of evil example, swerve exceedingly from the rules of their holy religion.” — Atterbury.
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4.
To bend; to incline.
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5.
To climb or move upward by winding or turning.“The tree was high; Yet nimbly up from bough to bough I swerved.” — Dryden.