Changed direction abruptly, especially while moving. Often implies avoiding something or deviating from an intended path.
From Old English sweorfan meaning 'to file, scour, or rub,' which evolved through Middle English to mean turning aside or deviating. The modern sense of suddenly changing direction while in motion emerged in the 16th century.
The word's evolution from 'rubbing' to 'suddenly turning' captures something essential about how we experience quick direction changes - there's a sense of friction, of resistance being overcome. It's the perfect word for those split-second decisions that can change everything.
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