Middle English Dictionary Entry
swāren v.
Entry Info
| Forms | swāren v. P.sg.3 swār(e)d. |
| Etymology | OE -swarian (in andswarian) & ON: cp. OI svara. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To answer, reply; (b) to answer (sb. or sth.), reply to; (c) with directly quoted speech: to answer (certain specified words), respond with; also, with indirect speech: answer (that sb. should suffer sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)8938 : Alle þatt himm herrdenn þær, Hemm þuhhte..þatt he wass full ȝæp & wis To swarenn & to fraȝȝnenn.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1108 : Swete, swap we so -- sware with trawþe -- Queþer..lymp lere oþer better.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1756 : Quen þat comly he keuered his wyttes, Swenges out of þe sweuenes & swarez with hast.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)750 : Þan went him furthe Alexander & his ande takis, Lete a-swage, or he sware, þe swelme of his angirs.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5331 : 'Now, be my croun,' quod þe quene, 'as kniȝtly þou swaris..Bot..lete of þi sorowe.'
b
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1415 : Tymbres and tabornes tulket among; Symbales and sonetez sware þe noyse.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)240 : Wel watz me þat euer I watz bore, To sware þat swete in perlez pyȝte!
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1793 : 'Þat is a worde,' quoþ þat wyȝt, 'þat worst is of alle, Bot I am swared forsoþe, þat sore me þinkkez.'
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2011 : He called to his chamberlayn, þat cofly hym swared.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)674 : Con he calke & a-conte..& þe lady swares.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2069 : Þai swiftly him sward & swyth þus him tellis.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4193 : Alexander bad an athil..Quase þai ware..And þai him swiftly swarid.
c
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1621 : Þe knyȝt swaris, 'Nouthire haylsid I him, ne hildid him nouthire.'
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2523 : 'Quat knawis þou þat?' quod þe kyng, & þen þe kniȝt swaris, 'Sire, I was sent on a sand, [etc.].'
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2656 : 'Quat sall be done him for þis dede?' & þai bedene sware, Sum, at he hangid suld be hiȝe.