Middle English Dictionary Entry
swī̆keful adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | swī̆keful adj. Also swikefulle, swikful, (early SWM) swicful(le, -fol(le. |
| Etymology | OE swicfull |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Of persons: perfidious, traitorous, false, deceitful; of behavior: treacherous.
Associated quotations
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4000 : Swa ic wende wel þat þe sæȝe soð weoren þe me wes to-niht itald [bi] an eorl swic-ful [Otho: swicfol] & bald.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6679 : Þus spæc þe swike-fulle [Otho: false] gume.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)7041 : He her wes of-slaȝen þurh swicfulle laȝen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)7468 : Þus hailede him on þe swic-fulle [Otho: swicfolle] wimman.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2304 : Þe warlau..leed þat suikful [Frf: fals] folk wit sin.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4412 : Ioseph soght on me in bour, þat suikeful fals, þat fole lichour.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)73.14 : Thou slogh heuyd synnes, the whilke swikfull deuels eggis in watirs.