sweep

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sweep pt., pp. swept
A. remove with or as with a broom or brush; clear (a surface) in this way XIII;

B. intr. move with a strong or swift even motion XIV. ME. swēpe, repl. ME. swōpe (OE. swāpan), either by extension of the vowel ē of the pt. (OE. swēop), or by development ī to ē in OE. *swipian (pt. swipode) scourge, or ON. intr. svipa.

Hence sweep sb. in many uses covered by the definitions ‘act of sweeping’ (from XVI) and ‘apparatus for sweeping’ (from XV); in the sense ‘chimney-sweeper’ (XIX) preceded by chimney-sweep and †sweep-chimney (both XVII). Comp. sweepstake †one who takes the whole of the stakes in a game XV; †total removal XVI; (prize won in) a contest in which the stakes are contributed by the competitors XVIII.

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