swim English · revision 6267

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725|origins=gem-pro *swimmaną}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /swɪm/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English swimmen, [[inh|ang|swimman|t=to move in or on the water, float]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from [[gem-pro|*swimmaną]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) cognate with [[osx|swimman]], [[nl|zwemmen]], [[de|schwimmen]] and [[non|svimma]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) perhaps from PIE [[ine-pro|*swem-|t=to be in motion]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To move in water: Old English, about 725, in ''Beowulf''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To cross by swimming is from the 1590s.^(Etymonline) ''Sink or swim'' is from the early 15th century,^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) and ''swim with the tide'' by the 1590s.^(Etymonline) Of things seen by a dizzy person, to reel, is from the 1670s, and of the head, to feel dizzy, from 1702, perhaps influenced by Old English [[m|ang|swīma|t=unconsciousness]].^(Etymonline) The noun meant the clear part of a liquid (1540s), and an act of swimming from 1764.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A stretch of river frequented by fish is from 1828, which probably gave ''in the swim'', in the current of events (late 19th century).^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – to swim.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 15th century – sink or swim.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1670s – to reel, of sight.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1764 – an act of swimming.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 19th century – in the swim.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To move through water by moving the arms and legs or, of fish, the fins and tail.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To cross by swimming: ''swim the Channel''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To float on or be covered with liquid: ''swimming in gravy''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To feel dizzy, or to seem to whirl: ''my head is swimming''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A period of swimming.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[swimmable]]

+ * [[swimmer]]

+ * [[swimsuit]]

+ * [[outswim]]

+ * [[swimmy]]

+ * [[swimwear]]

+ * [[swim bladder]]

+ * [[swim fin]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[swimming]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}