Middle English Dictionary Entry
swōpen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | swōpen v. Also swope, (K) zuope. Forms: sg.3 (early) swōpeð, -ed, -es; p.sg.3 swẹ̄pe; ppl. i)swōpe(n, iswẹ̄pe & i)swōped, iswopud & (error) swpen. |
| Etymology | OE swāpan, p. swēop, ppl. -swāpen (as in forswāpen, p.ppl. of forswāpan). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. swaipen v., swappen v., swepen v., swippen v.
1.
(a) To perform the act of sweeping, sweep; (b) to sweep (a floor, house, etc.) clean of dirt, dust, etc.; ~ clene; ppl. swopen, swept; (c) to move (dust, debris) with a broom, sweep; ~ oute; (d) fig. to cleanse (the heart) of evil or bitterness.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)10 : Wt baleys men swopyþ.
b
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)70/10 : Nu me wule swopen þine flor and þet flet clensien.
- a1275 Þene latemeste dai (Trin-C B.14.39)27 : Me wole suopen þin hus & bernen þi bout.
- c1300 SLeg.Chris.(LdMisc 108)180 : Lat swope [Corp-C: swopeþ] þe stretes faire.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)6945 : Me broȝte vorþ..ssares and leide is..In þe bar erþe isuope [B: iswope; vr. yswepe].
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)2193 : Þe flore was swopen clene.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)249b/a : Þer with houses ben y-swope [L scopentur] and y-clensed.
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)38 : Make clene þanne a soler, And loke þat hyt be wel y-swopud [F baler].
- c1415 Chaucer CT.CY.(Corp-O 198)G.936 : Let swope [vr. swepe] þe floor.
- a1450 SLeg.Fran.(2) (Bod 779)451 : Vppon þe swpen [?read: swopen] grounde eche nyȝt he lay.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)184/573 : Take..chekyns..and put hem in close hous clene swope.
- a1600(1408-17) Rec.St.Mary at Hillp.xcvi : The chauncell flore most be..fayre swoped with a Besom.
c
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)161/14 : O þe smeale dust..ha flaskeð weater & swopeð [Tit: swopes; Cai: swoped] ut efter al þet oðer.
- c1415 Chaucer CT.CY.(Corp-O 198)G.938 : The mullok on an heep y-swoped [vrr. yswopen; yswepped] was.
d
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)87 : He..fint hit emti and mid beseme clene swopen.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)109/5 : Leue uader, ylyky þe þet þe holy gost ous wille alyȝte þe herte and clensi and zuope [Vices & V.(2): make hire fair; F espurgier].
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)5.102 : Ȝif schri[f]t schulde hit þenne swopen out, a gret wonder hit were.
2.
Of a person: to be swept along, drift.
Associated quotations
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)341 : Þenne he swepe to þe sonde.
3.
In phrase:~ doun of, ?to cut down (sb. with an ax), fall on and kill.
Associated quotations
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)7005 : Wiþ hys ax doun he sweepe Off þe Sarezynys as bere doþ scheepe.