sweat
sweat
UK[swɛt]US[swɛt]
v
to produce a clear liquid through your skin when you are hot, ill, or frightened
n
the clear liquid that appears on your skin when you are hot, ill, or frightened
Etymology
the word "sweat" originates from the old english swæt, a noun meaning "perspiration," and its related verb swætan, "to perspire." these terms descend from the proto-germanic root swait-, which also gave rise to similar words in other germanic languages, such as dutch zweet and german schweiß. this germanic root is further traced back to the proto-indo-European base sweid-/swoid-, meaning "to sweat" or "to emit moisture," a root that also produced the latin sudor and greek hidrōs. the word's journey reflects a stable, direct naming of a fundamental bodily function, retaining its core sensory meaning from its ancient origins into modern english without significant morphological segmentation.
Analysis
the word is a simplex form derived from old english swæt (noun) and swætan (verb). it is a germanic root word with a clear onomatopoeic or sensory quality, representing the physical substance and action itself.
Examples
after the intense workout, his shirt was soaked with sweat.
she began to sweat nervously while waiting for her interview.
the humidity made everyone break into a sweat just standing still.