Middle English Dictionary Entry
sọ̄te adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | sọ̄te adv. Sup. suọ̄tes. |
| Etymology | OE swōte |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Fragrantly, with a fragrance; ~ savoured (savouringe, smellinge), fragrant, aromatic [sote in these combs., as well as in exx. with smellen v., could be construed as sot(e adj., as with similar constructions in MnE, but cp. soteli adv. (a), sweteli adv. 1.(b), & OE swote]; (b) pleasantly, pleasurably; (c) tenderly, gently; (d) comfortably, soundly; (e) securely, firmly.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)53 : He bindeð uppon þa swike chese and bret hine for þon þet he sclode [read: scolde] swote smelle.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Bod 34)114/801 : Porphire..al þes lefdis licome leofliche smirede wið smirles of aromaz swote smellinde.
- c1300 SLeg.Cross (LdMisc 108)197 : Ech manere fruyt þare he i-saiȝ þat smulde al-so wel swote.
- a1325 SLeg.Swithin (Corp-C 145)150 : Louerd muche is þi miȝte..Þat a body ssolde so swote smulle þat so longe hadde beo ded.
- a1350 Of euerykune tre (Rwl D.913)3 : Þe haweþorn blowet suotes of euerykune tre.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Jer.6.20 : Wherto to me cens of Saba ȝee bringen, and the spices calamy swote smellende fro a ferr lond?
- a1400 Primer (StJ-C G.24)49 : As canele and bawme swote smellynge y ȝaf swote odowr.
- c1415 Chaucer CT.Mil.(Corp-O 198)A.3691 : He cheweþ grayn and likorise To smellen swoote.
- a1425 WBible(1) (CC 145)Ezek.6.13 : Vnder eche oek ful of bowes, þat is to seie, a place where þei brenden encens swote sauourende to alle þer idolis.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2612 : Th'encens out of the fyre reketh sote.
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)124 : To þis oynement þou shalt cast safran chiries þat smellen sote.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)128 : A bold kniht..to a bow stirte, Þe sote-saverede frut sone to pulle.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Mary Oign.(Dc 114)175/32 : We haue shewyd..þe sote-sauourynge cloþes of þis spouse of Cryste.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)3459 : Spyce & greyn I [Nature] make to enspyre soote.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)68a/a : Waissche þe same wounde boþe wiþinne & wiþoute wiþ warme whit wiyn sote smellynge.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)133 : The stretes were strowed with small grasse and incense and myrre..and so swote sauoured thourgh the Cytee that fer men shulde fele the odour.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.543 : Thise cokes..caste noght awey That may go thurgh the golet softe and soote.
- a1450(?1419-20) Topias (Dgb 41)77/128 : Ȝoure preching is perilouse; it poiseneþ sone; As honyed venym it crepit in swot.
c
- a1400(a1325) Glo.Chron.B (Trin-C R.4.26)826/22 : One faire grete chirche þat lond folc makede..& þat bodi þer inne leiden wel swote.
- c1450(c1400) Emare (Clg A.2)1020 : Þe emperour..toke her yn hys armes two And clypte and kyssed her sote.
d
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)7/24 : Swote þu sleptest Longe on þine bedde.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)122/1 : Ich walde awakenin þe, & for þu sleptest swote [Tit: faste], ne mah ich for reowðe.
e
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.5876 : In her brest ficched was þe rote Of couetise, whiche sit so sote Þat no man may arrace him.