From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Swerve \Swerve\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Swerved}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Swerving}.] [OE. swerven, AS. sweorfan to wipe off, to file,
to polish; akin to OFries. swerva to creep, D. zwerven to
swerve, to rope, OS. swerban to wipe off, MHG. swerben to be
whirled, OHG. swerban to wipe off, Icel. sverfa to file,
Goth. swa['i]rban (in comp.) to wipe, and perhaps to E.
swarm. Cf. {Swarm}.]
1. To stray; to wander; to rope. [Obs.]
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A maid thitherward did run,
To catch her sparrow which from her did swerve.
--Sir P.
Sidney.
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2. To go out of a straight line; to deflect. "The point [of
the sword] swerved." --Sir P. Sidney.
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3. To wander from any line prescribed, or from a rule or
duty; to depart from what is established by law, duty,
custom, or the like; to deviate.
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I swerve not from thy commandments. --Bk. of Com.
Prayer.
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They swerve from the strict letter of the law.
--Clarendon.
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Many who, through the contagion of evil example,
swerve exceedingly from the rules of their holy
religion. --Atterbury.
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4. To bend; to incline. "The battle swerved." --Milton.
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5. To climb or move upward by winding or turning.
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The tree was high;
Yet nimbly up from bough to bough I swerved.
--Dryden.
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