(a) To swallow; take (sth.) into the stomach through the mouth, swallow; also fig.; also, in proverb and prov. expression; of the tongue: help in the act of swallowing (sth.) [quot. a1225(?a1200)]; ~ adoun (doun, in, up), ~ doun of, swallow (sth.); (b) to eat (sb. or sth.) greedily and hastily, devour; also fig.; ~ up; ppl. swolwinge, devouring; ravening [last quot.]; swolwinge of, devouring (sth.); (c) to taste, take a taste; also, taste (sth.); also fig.; (d) ~ in, to take (someone's head) into the mouth; ~ in-to, take (sb., someone's head) into (the mouth); (e) ppl. swolwinge as noun: the place that swallows, the throat, gullet.

(a) To be absorbed; (b) of a sea, pond, etc.: to engulf (sb. or sth.), absorb, draw down; also fig.; ~ in, draw in (ships), engulf; ben swolwed, of a river: be absorbed (into the earth or a sea); (c) of the earth, a grave, hell: to engulf (sb. or sth., a soul), swallow up; also fig.; absorb (sth.); also, perform the act of swallowing up someone or something [quots. c1300 SLeg. vr. & c1390, 2nd occurrence]; ~ doun (in); (d) to overcome (sb. or sth.), overpower, overwhelm; also fig.; kill (sb.), slay [quot. c1400(?c1380)]; of the devil, a vice: consume (sb.), destroy; of darkness: envelop (sb.), overtake [quot. ?a1450(?c1400)]; ~ up, of a nation: subject (other nations) to itself, swallow up; ppl. swolwinge as adj., of heat: consuming.

(a) To transform the nature of (sth.) into something of a different form; (b) to make (sth.) stick together; unite (persons); make (the body) cleave (to the earth).