Swiving

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Engaging in sexual intercourse, an archaic and vulgar term used in Elizabethan and Jacobean English
2. Having carnal relations with someone, a crude expression found in old English literature
3. Copulating sexually, a bawdy archaic verb recorded in early modern writing

Etymology: "Swiving" is the present participle or verbal noun of "swive," a verb meaning to have sexual intercourse with someone. The ending "-ing" is one of the most productive suffixes in English, attached to verbs to form participles and gerunds, so the word is simply the older verb with that familiar ending added to it. The more interesting story lies in "swive" itself, which has been a rough, blunt word for centuries and was used most often in earthy or coarse contexts. Because it is so closely tied to a single act, it has rarely been used in polite company, and its meaning has stayed remarkably stable, unlike many verbs that drift toward gentler senses over time.

Synonyms: copulate, couple