shift

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A change from one position, idea, or situation to another.

   There has been a major shift in public opinion on the issue.

2. 2
   noun

   A set period during the day when a group of workers is on duty.

   No one wanted the overnight shift, even though it paid more.

3. 3
   verb

   To move something from one place or position to another.

   Help me shift the sofa closer to the window.

4. 4
   verb

   To change focus, emphasis, or direction.

   The speaker shifted the conversation to a more serious topic.

The noun is from Middle English schyft, shyffte. Cognate with German Schicht (“layer, shift”). The verb is from Middle English schiften, from Old English sċiftan (“to divide, separate into shares; appoint, ordain; arrange, organise”), from Proto-Germanic *skiftijaną, *skiptijaną, from earlier *skipatjaną (“to organise, put in order”), from Proto-Indo-European *skeyb- (“to separate, divide, part”), from Proto-Indo-European *skey- (“to cut, divide, separate, part”). Cognate with Scots schift, skift (“to shift”), West Frisian skifte, skiftsje (“to sort”), Dutch schiften (“to sort, screen, winnow,…

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