Archaic or Middle English term meaning to swerve or turn aside; to move away from course.
From 'a-' (prefix) plus Middle English 'sweven' or 'sweve' (to swerve), possibly related to Germanic roots for twisting or turning motion.
In medieval texts, knights would 'asweve' from their enemy's sword strikes—a poetic way of describing combat maneuvers that sounds like the motion itself.
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