Having dark brown or tanned skin; dusky in appearance.
From Middle English 'swart' meaning 'dark' or 'swarthy,' possibly related to Old English 'sweart.' The exact origin is uncertain but may connect to words meaning 'burnt' or 'blackened.'
This word has a complicated history because it was often used with stereotyping undertones to describe people from other regions. In modern usage it's neutral, but literary works using it historically often reveal period prejudices.
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