swift

1. sweep => swift.
2. 表现的是一种“秋风扫落叶”般的快速、迅速、敏捷。
3. 一扫而光。

swift 迅速的，敏捷的

来自古英语 swift,快速的，来自 Proto-Germanic*swiftaz,快速的，来自 PIE*sweip,缠绕，弯曲， 来自 PIE*swei,弯，转，摇摆，词源同 swing,sweep.引申诸相关词义。

swift

swift: [OE] The etymological meaning of swift appears to be ‘moving along a course’; ‘speed’ is a secondary development. It goes back ultimately to the prehistoric Germanic base *swei- ‘swing, bend’, which also produced English sweep, swivel [14], and the long defunct swive ‘copulate with’ (a descendant of Old English swīfan ‘move in a course’). Its use as a name for the fast-flying swallow-like bird dates from the 17th century.
=> sweep, swivel

swift (adj.)

Old English swift "moving quickly," perhaps originally "turning quickly," from Proto-Germanic swip- (see swivel (n.)). Related: Swiftly; swiftness.

swift (n.)

type of bird (several species of the family Cypselidæ, resembling swallows), 1660s, from swift (adj.) in reference to its swift flight. Regarded as a bird of ill-omen, if not downright demonic, probably for its shrill cry. The name earlier had been given to several small fast lizards (1520s).

1. He is very sharp, a quick thinker and swift with repartee.

他非常机敏，反应很快，并且能说会道。

2. Jaegers are swift black birds with long forked tails.

贼鸥是飞行速度很快的黑色鸟类，尾部长而分叉。

3. He is a stupendously swift writer.

他是个非常多产的作家。

4. With a swift movement, Matthew Jerrold sat upright.

马修·杰罗尔德迅速坐直了。

5. The White House was swift to deny the rumours.

白宫立刻对这些传言予以否认。

【hasty, quick, prompt, fast, instant, rapid, speedy, swift】
hasty: 多指匆忙、草率或仓促的行动，着重缺乏深思熟虑。
quick: 特指瞬时动作，强调动作敏捷迅速；也指匆忙的行为，而不暗示速度很快。
prompt: 主要指动作迅速，毫不拖延，含“快得令人愉悦”的意味。
fast: 常指人或物持续地高速运动，强调运动的方式。
instant: 指某事很快发生或急待解决，含刻不容缓之意。
rapid: 比fast和quick正式，常指运动本身，侧重速度惊人。所指动作可能是短暂的，也可能是持续的。
speedy: 指人或物或其运动、活动时，着重极度的快捷，多含匆忙意味。
swift: 正式用词，强调非常迅速，往往含动作轻快敏捷之意。