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# swift

adjective (swift, swifter, swiftest); noun (a swift, swifts — a bird)

«swift» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Very fast, quick in moving. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swift/#m1)
2. Happening quickly or without delay: «a swift reply». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swift/#m2)
3. A small, fast bird with long pointed wings that spends most of its life flying. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swift/#m3)

### In the lessons

In stories «swift» is a stronger, more literary word for «fast»: a swift horse, swift action. In science and nature lessons, swifts are birds that eat, drink and even sleep while flying, and travel huge distances. In formal writing: «swift response». Phrases: «swift action», «swift reply», «swift as the wind», «swift recovery».

### Examples

- The swift river carried the boat away. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swift/#x1)
- The cheetah is swift and strong. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swift/#x2)
- Thank you for your swift reply. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swift/#x3)
- The police took swift action. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swift/#x4)
- Swifts fly south for the winter. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swift/#x5)
- She made a swift recovery after her illness. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swift/#x6)
- A swift can fly hundreds of kilometres in a day. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swift/#x7)
- He leaped into the deep, swift stream. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swift/#x8)

### Note

Adverb: «swiftly». Noun: «swiftness». Swifts look like swallows but are not closely related. In maths, «swift» only tells you «fast»; use the actual speed numbers.

## In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: Tradition reads such verses as pictures of how short life is, and how quickly evil can run. In the primary lessons: In stories «swift» is a stronger, more literary word for «fast»: a swift horse, swift action. In science and nature lessons, swifts are birds that eat, drink and even sleep while flying, and travel huge distances. In formal writing: «swift response». Phrases: «swift action», «swift reply», «swift as the wind», «swift recovery».

### Examples

- My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope. (Writings JOB.7.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/swift/#x1)
- A heart that deviseth wicked thoughts, feet that are swift in running to evil; (Writings PRO.6.18, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/swift/#x2)
- Now my days are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see no good. (Writings JOB.9.25, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/swift/#x3)

### Note

Adverb: «swiftly». Noun: «swiftness». Swifts look like swallows but are not closely related. In maths, «swift» only tells you «fast»; use the actual speed numbers.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «swift» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/swift/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«swift» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/swift.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «swift» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/swift/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«swift» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/swift.html) on Mova free.