swerve

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to change direction suddenly, especially to avoid hitting something

   The driver had to swerve to avoid the fallen branch.

2. 2
   verb

   to depart abruptly from a principle, plan, or expected course

   She refused to swerve from her commitment to publish the evidence.

3. 3
   noun

   a sudden change of direction or departure from an intended course

   One sharp swerve carried the bicycle across the center line.

From Middle English swerven, from Old English sweorfan ('to scour, rub, or turn aside'), from a Germanic verb meaning 'to rub off or wipe.' Cognates in Dutch and Frisian developed senses such as wandering or straying, which parallel the English shift to a sudden departure from a course.

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