swepen

Middle English

Alternative forms

• sweepe, swepe

Etymology

Not known before the 14th century, but usually considered to be from Anglian Old English *swēpan (West Saxon *swǣpan), from Proto-West Germanic *swaipijan, from Proto-Germanic *swaipijaną.

Derivation from Old English swipian (with open-syllable lengthening) or swēop, past participle of swāpan is also possible; these sources may have reinforced a rare *swēpan.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsweːpən/

Verb

swepen (third-person singular simple present swepeth, present participle swepynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative swepte, past participle swept)

1. (ambitransitive) To sweep (something); to stroke with a broom:
2. (transitive, religion) To cleanse or purge evil influences.
3. (usually transitive) To remove or eradicate; to strike off.
4. (ambitransitive, poetic, uncommon) To speed up or impel.

Conjugation

Conjugation of swepen (weak in -te/-ed)

infinitive	(to) swepen, swepe
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	swepe	swepte, sweped
2nd-person singular	swepest	sweptest, swepedest
3rd-person singular	swepeth	swepte, sweped
subjunctive singular	swepe
imperative singular		—
plural1	swepen, swepe	swepten, swepte, swepeden, swepede
imperative plural	swepeth, swepe	—
participles	swepynge, swepende	swept, sweped, yswept, ysweped

¹ Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Descendants

• English: sweep
• Scots: sweep

References

• “swẹ̄pen, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.