sweien

Middle English

Etymology 1

Old English swēgan.

Verb

sweien

  1. to resound; to make a sound
Usage notes
  • Not to be confused with swīen (“be silent”), with which it was homophonous by the 13th century.[1]
Alternative forms
  • sweiȝan; sweie, swie

Etymology 2

Probably from Old Norse sveigja (“bend”).

Verb

sweien

  1. to bend or move in a swaying or sweeping way
  2. (transitive, intransitive) to move downward; to fall
  3. (transitive, intransitive) to move quickly
Alternative forms

References

  1. ^ Edna Rees Williams, The Conflict of Homonyms in English (1944), page 100
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