GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
last match results
Found 3 definitions
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Swoop (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Swooped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Swooping.] [OE. swopen, usually, to sweep, As. swāpan to sweep, to rush; akin to G. schweifen to rove, to ramble, to curve, OHG. sweifan to whirl, Icel. sveipa to sweep; also to AS. swīfan to move quickly. Cf. Sweep, Swift, a. & n., Swipe, Swivel.]
1. To fall on at once and seize; to catch while on the wing; as, “a hawk swoops a chicken”.
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2. To seize; to catch up; to take with a sweep.
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And now at last you came to swoop it all. Dryden.
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The grazing ox which swoops it [the medicinal herb] in with the common grass. Glanvill.
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Swoop, v. i.
1. To descend with closed wings from a height upon prey, as a hawk; to stoop.
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2. To pass with pomp; to sweep. [Obs.] Drayton.
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Swoop, n. A falling on and seizing, as the prey of a rapacious bird; the act of swooping.
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The eagle fell, . . . and carried away a whole litter of cubs at a swoop. L'Estrange.
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