sweep etymology

Etymology:

• Old English swapan "to sweep, brush"
• Proto-Germanic *swōpaną
• Proto-Indo-European *swēp- "to sweep"

Meaning and Origin:

The word "sweep" comes from the Old English word swapan, which means "to sweep, brush." This word is derived from the Proto-Germanic swōpaną, which is itself derived from the Proto-Indo-European *swēp-, meaning "to sweep."

The Proto-Indo-European root *swēp- is also the origin of the words "swab," "sweeper," and "swoop." All of these words refer to the act of removing something by brushing or moving it away.

In the English language, "sweep" has a variety of meanings, including:

• To remove something by brushing or moving it away
• To clean a surface by brushing or moving it away
• To move or extend over a wide area
• To search or survey an area
• To win or capture everything in a game or contest

"Sweep" is also used figuratively to refer to a complete or overwhelming success. For example, we might say that a team "swept" their opponents in a series of games, meaning that they won every single game.

The word "sweep" is a versatile and commonly used word in the English language. Its origins go back to the Proto-Indo-European language, and it has a wide range of meanings related to the act of removing or cleaning something.

sweep relate terms

• sweepstakes

  Etymology The word sweepstakes is derived from the following Middle English terms Sw

• sweep

  Etymology Old English swapan to sweep brush Proto Germanic swōpaną Proto Indo Eur

• stake

  Etymology The word stake has multiple origins Old English staca meaning a pole o

• swoop

  Etymology Middle English swopen from Old English swapan Meaning To move swi

• swing

  Etymology The word swing has its origins in the Old Norse word svifta which means

• swoop

  Etymology Middle English swopen from Old English swapan Meaning To move swi

• swipe

  Etymology The word swipe has two distinct etymologies depending on its usage 1 To t

• embroil

  Etymology The word embroil derives from the Old French word embroller which in turn

• tangle

  Etymology The word tangle originates from the Middle English word tangel which is i

• raffle

  Etymology The word raffle is derived from the Middle Dutch word raffelen meaning t

• ravenous

  Etymology From Middle English ravenous from Old French ravenous from Late Latin raven

• brush

  Etymology and Meaning Brush derives from the Middle English word brusche which in tur

• roundhouse

  Etymology The word roundhouse has its origins in two Old English words rund meaning

• swan

  Etymology The word swan comes from the Middle English word swane which is derived f

• motion

  Etymology The word motion comes from the Latin word motus which means movement or

• drag

  Etymology The word drag originates from the Middle English term dragen which means