Middle English Dictionary Entry
lōrd-swike n.
Entry Info
| Forms | lōrd-swike n. Also laverd-, hlaford-, loverd- & (errors) hlafordswiche, hafordspiche, lafordiesþike; pl. loverd swikes & loverd suiken, lord sweken. |
| Etymology | OE hlāford-swica & hlāford-swice. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A traitor; (b) treason.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)22138 : Bute he weore swa fule biwite þæt he weore lauerd-swike [Otho: louerd-swike].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)24864 : Nah na man demen erendes-mon to dæðen bute he weoren swa ufele biwiten þet he weore lauerd-swike.
- a1350(1307) Execution Fraser (Hrl 2253)162 : For þat he wes lord-swyke, furst he wes to-drawe.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)6399 : Alle traitours & louerd suiken [vr. lord sweken; B: louerd swykes], god late hom so spede.
- ?1316 SMChron.(Roy 12.C.12)1033 : For he wes loverdsuyke..At Gaveressich..his heved wes of smyte.
b
- c1120(OE) Leges Hen.I in Liebermann Gesetze 1558 : Quedam [placita] enim non possunt emendari, que sunt: husbreche et bernet et open þifþ..et hlafordswike [vrr. hlafordswiche, hafordspiche, lafordieswike].