sweat English · revision 7375

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 899|origins=ine-pro *swéydos}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /swɛt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb is Middle English sweten, [[inh|ang|swǣtan|t=to perspire; to toil]], from the noun [[m|ang|swāt|t=perspiration; toil; blood]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from Proto-Germanic *swaitaz, source also of Dutch [[m|nl|zweet]] and German [[m|de|Schweiß]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from PIE [[ine-pro|*sweyd-|alt=*sweid-|t=to sweat]], also the source of Latin [[m|la|sudor]], Greek hidrṓs and Sanskrit svedah.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) The modern noun swete is an alteration of swot, swoet, after the verb.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To perspire and to work hard: before 899, in Alfred's translation of Gregory's ''Pastoral Care''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old English swāt could also mean blood, and the life-blood in ''to lose the sweat'' is from about 1320.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Moisture exuded through the skin is from about 1375,^(OED 1989) and ''the sweat of one's brow'', toil, from the late 14th century, after Genesis 3:19.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) To be worried or vexed is from about 1400,^(Etymonline) and to cause to sweat from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) ''Sweat equity'', interest in property gained by improving it, is from 1968.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 899 – to sweat; to toil.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1320 – life-blood (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1375 – perspiration.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1400 – to be anxious.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1968 – sweat equity.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Moisture given off through the pores of the skin, especially in heat, exertion or fear; [[perspiration]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' A state of anxiety or effort: ''in a sweat''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(sweats, informal)'' A [[tracksuit]] or sweatpants.^(COED 2004)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To give off sweat through the skin.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To work hard; to toil.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' To worry or be anxious.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sweatless]]

+ * [[sweatband]]

+ * [[sweatbox]]

+ * [[sweatpants]]

+ * [[sweathouse]]

+ * [[sweatshirt]]

+ * [[sweatshop]]

+ * [[sweaty]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sweater]]

+ * [[sudorific]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}