swerve
UK: swɜːv | US: swɜːrv
vi. to change direction suddenly, especially while moving
vt. to cause something to change direction suddenly
n. a sudden change in direction
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The word "swerve" originates from Old English sweorfan, meaning "to rub, scour, or file away." Over time, its meaning shifted to describe a sudden, abrasive change in motion—akin to the idea of "scraping off" a straight path. This evolution reflects the physicality of early Germanic languages, where motion verbs often had tactile origins. The modern sense of "swerve" as a sharp directional change emerged by the 14th century, retaining its abrupt, forceful connotation.
The car swerved to avoid hitting the deer.
She swerved her bike sharply around the pothole.
His speech swerved unexpectedly into politics.
A sudden swerve in the road caught the driver off guard.
The ball swerved left at the last moment, fooling the goalkeeper.