Dictionaries of the Scots Language
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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Swerfe, Swarfe, v. Also: suerf, swerve, swerwe, suerve, suerw(e, sweirve, suirve, suarf, suarv(e, swarve, (serve). P.t. also swarbett. [ME and e.m.E. swerve (Gower), swarue (a1513), swarf(e (1527), p.t. also swarf (a1225), OE sweorfan (p.t. swearf, p.p. sworfen), MDu. swerven, LG swarven, ON sverfa (p.t. svarf, p.p. sorfinn).]

1. intr. To turn away, allow oneself to be deflected, from a course of action, point of view, belief, etc. Also const. from (fra, etc.).(1) 1567 Sat. P. v 8.
Bauldlie togidder all to bend ȝow, That ȝe do nouther swerue nor swage a1568 Bann. in Bann. MS 234a/16.
Sen I … am subiect ȝow vntill Latt me nocht suerf ȝour faythfull seruiture 1570 Bann. Memor. 89.
Thair tressone, … It sall not make me suerve [Trans. suirve] c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxxiii 91.
Fra ȝe begin and for to sweirue, Ȝour richteuousnes sell be forȝett(2) 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary I 90.
Ȝit swarved he nevir frome oure obedience, nor nevir mycht be inducit a1570-86 Maitl. F. 426/12.
Frome his honest pairt And wertw for to serue [f.n. suarue] 1571 Sat. P. xxvi 137.
He hes not onlie sueruit fra our actioun Bot [etc.] 1558-66 Knox I 17.
The fear of that cruell death could [not] move him a joit to swarve from the trewth a1578 Pitsc. I 311/29.
The panis of that torment war not the occasioun to cause him suerue or schrink fre ony pairt of his faitht in Christ Jessus 1584 Thanes of Cawdor Pref. xxv.
That thai never suarf nor schrink bak from the treu religion of Jesus Cryst c1590 Fowler I 70/83.
Feare not I swerwe from thy [sc. Cupid's] impyre c1590 J. Stewart 221 § 85.
Nocht suerwing ons my vprycht statuts fro 1596 Dalr. I 178/18.
Na monument can schawe the Scottis frome that faith … euir at ony tyme to haue suaruet 1611-57 Mure Sonn. 2 Ser. ix 2.
A constant course, heere, Lord each creature keeps, Not swarving from thine ordinance their ends

b. To turn away from another person, to separate. 1560 Cal. Sc. P. I 509.
Ernest embracing off religion will joyne us straitly togidder, & mak the danger apeare the greatar if the one part sould suarve from the other c1600 Montg. Suppl. xix 1.
I hoipe to serve … Syne never for to suerue from hir that I luif best

c. To turn or move in the direction of a particular course of action. 1629 Boyd Last B. (1629) 174.
Most godlie soules may swarfe in sinne, but they cannot die in their sins

d. ? To turn or move betuene. 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I 171.
Ane oration … quhairin thair was a pairt in thir wordis, nyn tymes God swarbett betuene me and thame

2. tr. To cause to turn aside or deviate. c1590 J. Stewart 204 § 16.
That schrink of sorrow nether suerwe nor smart The interpryse of thy magnanime hart