sweep English · revision 10696

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1200|origins=ang swāpan}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /swiːp/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Middle English swepen is of uncertain origin,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) but replaced swope, sweep (about 1200), [[inh|ang|swāpan|t=to sweep]] (see [[swoop]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) perhaps by extending the ē of the past tense swēop.^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) It is related to German schweifen, to sweep in a curve.^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To clear away with a brush or broom, and figuratively to move swiftly and strongly: probably before 1200, in Layamon's Brut.^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline dates sweeping with a broom from the early 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To move swiftly and strongly is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) and to carry forward by force from about 1400.^(Etymonline) The noun was first a stroke or force (about 1250),^(Barnhart 1988) or a whip;^(Etymonline) an act of sweeping is from 1552.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) The scope of a sweeping movement is from 1679.^(Barnhart 1988) A military or police sweep across a wide area is from 1837.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Winning all the tricks in a card game is from 1814, extended to sports by 1960.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A chimney sweep, short for sweeper, is attested by 1796.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1200 – to sweep with a broom.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1250 – a stroke (noun).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – to move swiftly.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1552 – an act of sweeping.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1796 – a chimney sweep.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1837 – a military sweep.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To clean or clear with a [[broom]] or brush.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To move swiftly and smoothly or with force.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To search an area thoroughly, as for hidden listening devices.^(AHD)

+ # To win every game in a series.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # An act of sweeping.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A wide curving movement or extent: ''the sweep of the bay''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A [[chimney]] sweep.^(Etymonline)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A thorough search of an area.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sweeper]]

+ * [[sweepable]]

+ * [[resweep]]

+ * [[sweepback]]

+ * [[sweepy]]

+ * [[upsweep]]

+ * [[outsweep]]

+ * [[sweepstake]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[swoop]]

+ * [[swipe]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}