Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Swerve \Swerve\, v. t.
   To turn aside. --Gauden.

Swerve \Swerve\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Swerved}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Swerving}.] [OE. swerven, AS. sweorfan to wipe off, to file,
   to polish; akin to OFries. swerva to creep, D. zwerven to
   swerve, to rope, OS. swerban to wipe off, MHG. swerben to be
   whirled, OHG. swerban to wipe off, Icel. sverfa to file,
   Goth. swa['i]rban (in comp.) to wipe, and perhaps to E.
   swarm. Cf. {Swarm}.]
   1. To stray; to wander; to rope. [Obs.]

            A maid thitherward did run, To catch her sparrow
            which from her did swerve.            --Sir P.
                                                  Sidney.

   2. To go out of a straight line; to deflect. ``The point [of
      the sword] swerved.'' --Sir P. Sidney.

   3. To wander from any line prescribed, or from a rule or
      duty; to depart from what is established by law, duty,
      custom, or the like; to deviate.

            I swerve not from thy commandments.   --Bk. of Com.
                                                  Prayer.

            They swerve from the strict letter of the law.
                                                  --Clarendon.

            Many who, through the contagion of evil example,
            swerve exceedingly from the rules of their holy
            religion.                             --Atterbury.

   4. To bend; to incline. ``The battle swerved.'' --Milton.

   5. To climb or move upward by winding or turning.

            The tree was high; Yet nimbly up from bough to bough
            I swerved.                            --Dryden.

Source : WordNet®

swerve
     n 1: the act of turning aside suddenly [syn: {swerving}, {veering}]
     2: an erratic deflection from an intended course [syn: {yaw}]
     v : turn sharply; change direction abruptly; "The car cut to the
         left at the intersection"; "The motorbike veered to the
         right" [syn: {sheer}, {curve}, {trend}, {veer}, {slue}, {slew},
          {cut}]