fleet

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fleet3 †float OE.; (arch.) flow or glide away XII. OE. str. vb. flēotan float, swim = OS. fliotan (Du. vlieten), OHG. fliozan (G. fliessen), ON. fljóta float, flow :- Gmc. *fleutan; f. IE. *pleud- *plud-, extension of *pleu- *plou- plu- (repr. by Gr. pleîn :- *pleFfein sail, OSl. pluti, Skr. plávate swim, float, L. pluere rain); cf. FLY2. Surviving mainly in fleeting ppl. adj. †floating, swimming OE.; †shifting, inconstant XIII; passing quickly away XVI.

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