swift-winged

swift-winged

A swift-winged hummingbird hovers near a bright red flower.

Definition

Adjective: Describing something that has or moves with swift, agile, or rapid wings. The term "swift-winged" combines "swift" (moving at high speed) and "winged" (having wings), and is used to emphasize the speed and grace of flight, often in poetic or descriptive contexts.

Usage Examples
  • (The hawk’s wings are fast and agile in flight.)
  • (The messenger’s speed is attributed to its wings.)
  • (The insect’s wings allow it to move quickly.)
Advanced Usage

  • "swift-winged as thought": A poetic simile comparing the speed of thought to the rapid motion of wings.

    • Her imagination was swift-winged as thought, leaping from idea to idea. (Her mind moved as quickly as a bird in flight.)

  • "swift-winged hope": A metaphorical use where hope is described as having wings, implying it arrives or fades quickly.

    • Swift-winged hope vanished as soon as the bad news arrived. (Hope disappeared rapidly.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Swift (adj): moving at high speed; quick.
    • The runner was swift. (The runner was fast.)
  • Winged (adj): having wings or wing-like parts.
    • The winged creature flew away. (The creature had wings.)
  • Swift-wing (n): a rare, poetic noun form referring to a creature with fast wings (e.g., a bird or insect).
    • The swift-wing darted through the trees. (A creature with fast wings moved quickly.)
Synonyms
  • Fast-flying: moving quickly through the air.
    • A fast-flying eagle. (An eagle that flies rapidly.)
  • Rapid-winged: having wings that beat or move quickly.
    • The rapid-winged hummingbird. (A hummingbird with fast-moving wings.)
  • Quick-winged: similar to "swift-winged," emphasizing speed.
    • The quick-winged bat. (A bat that flies swiftly.)
Related Idioms
  • On swift wings: moving with great speed, often used metaphorically.
    • The news traveled on swift wings. (The news spread very quickly.)
  • Wings of a dove: a biblical idiom for swift, peaceful flight, but "swift-winged" can replace "dove" for speed.
    • Swift-winged as a dove, the message arrived. (The message arrived quickly and peacefully.)