Swiped

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Took something quickly and without permission ; moved a finger across a device's screen to operate it
2. Acted to steal or seize an item in a swift manner ; dragged a finger over a touch-sensitive surface to control an electronic device
3. Grabbed or pilfered an object rapidly ; executed a sliding finger motion on a touchscreen to interact with content

Etymology: "Swiped" is the past tense of "swipe," and the verb's oldest sense is one of violence. Its ancestor in Old English, "sweopian" or "swippan," meant to scourge, strike, beat, or lash, and a Middle English relative, "swippen," meant to move violently. The roots reach back to a Proto-Germanic verb meaning simply "to move," which also gave German "schwippen," meaning to sway back and forth, and Icelandic "svipa," a riding crop or whip. The shared idea is a quick, sweeping motion. The sense of taking something quickly and without permission grows out of that sudden, sweeping movement: a snatch made in one fast gesture. The touchscreen meaning, moving a finger across a device to operate it, is a modern extension of the same quick sideways stroke. Its relatives include "sweep" and "swoop," which share the same ancient root.

Synonyms: stolen, taken, grabbed, snatched, lifted

Antonyms: returned, replaced, given, restored, returned