Middle English Dictionary Entry
swẹ̄pen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | swẹ̄pen v. Also swep(e; sg.3 sweputh; p. swepid, swepte; ppl. i)sweped, iswepped, suepet, i)swept, squepid & (N) sweppen. |
| Etymology | From OE *swipian or swēop, p. of swāpan; cp. OS swēpan. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. swaipen v., swappen v., swippen v., swopen v.
1.
(a) To perform the act of sweeping, sweep; (b) to sweep (sth.) clean, make clean by sweeping; (c) to sweep up (trash), collect by sweeping; (d) fig. to make (the heart, spirit, soul, etc.) clean or pure.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)186 : F. de ramoun baleie: W. with besome sweputh.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.978 : With that word she gan the hous to dighte..Preyynge the chambreres for goddes sake To hasten hem and faste swepe and shake.
- a1525(?1421) Cov.Leet Bk.23 : That euery man make clene the streyte befor hur place..and that no man Raak ne swep in tyme of rayne fro one to a-nothur.
b
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)468 : Si le facez bien baler [glossed:] swepen [vrr. suepet klene; clene to kepe].
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.936 : I am right siker that the pot was crased..As vsage is, lat swepe [vr. swope] the floor.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)249b/b : Of bowes and sprayes þerof [birch tree] beþ besomes y-made to swepe and to clense houses.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)58b/b : Scopo: Swepe.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)11/13 : She avowed chastite..and to lyght lompes, torches, and..to suepe and to kepe clene the chirche.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)3590 : The house was cleen I-swept.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)123b : To Swepe: Scobere..scopare.
- a1500(c1450) Idley Instr.(Arun 20)2.S.42 : Þat in þe chyrche or chyrchȝard hopes to lye, Ouȝt to se þat yt be purely kept And as hys owne chambyr clenely swept.
c
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.938 : The mullok on an heep ysweped [vrr. sweped, yswepped] was.
d
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ps.76.7 : I was enhauntid & I swepte [WB(2): clensid] my spirit [NVPsalter: swepid mi gaste].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)26672 : I haue mi hert soght ilk a delle, And sueped [Frf: squepid] wel þat was þar-in And sceu þe lauerd vte al mi sin.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.48.33b : Þou schalt casten oute of þin herte alle swilke sinnes and swepe þi sowle clene wiþ a bisme of drede of god.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)76.6 : I swepid my gast, that is, i purgid it of all filth.
2.
(a) Fig. To sweep (sth.) away, destroy utterly, get rid of; also, clear (sth.) away [quot. 1440]; ~ awei; (b) ~ doun, to mow down (a meadow in swaths); ~ of, cut off (someone's head); (c) of a falling body: to sweep or strike (the ground).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.14.23 : I shal distroȝen babiloynes name..I shal swepen it in a besme.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)19/26 : Vse honeste in lyuyng & þou mayt haue no betere besom to swepe a wey þe motes of infames birþe.
- (1440) Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)3983 : Norbert..gan to wepe, And aftir þat with his lyppes to swepe The blood away fro þe fayre patene.
- a1450(a1400) Titus & V.(Add 36523)2969 : All þe subarbes of þe toun To þe grounde were cast adoun, And swept all clene over all Into þe bare toun wall.
b
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2508 : Thees fresche men of armes..one a mede falles, Mawen and vnmade..In swathes sweppen down.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)5.1572 : Thi owen wyues heed of þou dede sweepe [rime: weepe].
c
- (c1422) Hoccl.JWife (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)847 : Thy body sholde han the grownd swept & kist.
3.
(a) To hasten, rush, sweep along; (b) to drive (sb. or sth.) quickly, impel; (c) to transport (sb.) from a state of consciousness, carry away.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1509 : Swyfte swaynes ful swyþe swepen þertylle, Kyppe kowpes in honde kyngez to serve.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)250 : A wylde walterande whal..swyftely swenged hym to swepe and his swolȝ opened.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)111 : Swangeande swete þe water con swepe, Wyth a rownande rourde raykande aryȝt.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)342 : There was wellit to wale water full nobill..With a swoughe and a swetnes sweppit on þe grounde.
b
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)4947 : Þan sal alle þe fire be sweped doune In-til helle.
- a1500(?c1450) Florence (Cmb Ff.2.38)138 : Aye the wynde was in the sayle..The wethur þem forþe can swepe.
c
- c1450(?a1370) Winner & W.(Add 31042)46 : As I laye at the laste, þan lowked myn eghne, And I was swythe in a sweuen sweped belyue.
4.
In surname.
Associated quotations
- (1379) Nickname in LuSE 55173 : Rob. Swepstak.