Middle English Dictionary Entry
swǒun(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | swǒun(e n. Also swon(e, swune, suun, squowen, squowin, sowoune, sowen, soune, sounde, (N) swounid & (?errors) swonne, suuiine. |
| Etymology | From aswǒune pred.adj. & adv. interpreted as a swǒune or from swǒunen v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. swou(e n.
1.
(a) A loss of consciousness, faint, swoon; a state or period of temporary unconsciousness, a fit of fainting; in ded ~, in a dead faint;dounfallen in (on) ~, fallen (adoun, doun) in ~, etc., to collapse in a faint; (b) a state of unconsciousness leading to death; (c) ?spiritual torpor, acedia.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.3647 : Sche gan doun falle On swoune.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.5788 : In swoune..sche gan doun falle.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.2859 : I was out of mi swoune affraied, Wherof I sih my wittes straied.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1080 : In swowne he fil adoun.
- a1400(c1250) Floris (Eg 2862)252 : Þe Queene herde [read: sawe] her byforn On sowne þe childe þat she had born.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)9182 : Þey fyl alle downe As þey hade be dede or fal yn a swone [vr. swon].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11722 : Þai fell in suun [Göt: suuiine; Frf: squowin] al þat þar war, For angel sight þai fell dun mad.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)24328 : In squowen were we laide.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1180 : A longeyng heuy me stroke in swone.
- c1415 Chaucer CT.Ph.(Corp-O 198)C.245 : Sche felle on swown [Heng: aswowne].
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)10254 : Fel sche doun For sorwe & care In a ded sowne.
- a1450 PPl.A(1) (RwlPoet 137)5.213 : On sowen [Trin-C: Sleuþe for sorewe fil doun a swowe].
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)460/11 : He was so flayed he was like hafe dyed, & fell in a swownyd.
- c1455 Chaucer CT.Sq.(Trin-C R.3.3)F.477 : Swune [Heng: she of swow gan abreyde].
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)195/16 : She fell doune on a swone.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)3728 : In swonne [?read: swoune] bothe downe they felle.
- a1500(?a1425) Ipom.(2) (Hrl 2252)874 : She gan downe falle On swoune.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)2359 : He bledde so fast that he felle in A swonne [?read: swoune; rime: sone].
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)134 : Bothe lay longe in sowowne that thei semed deed.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)8705 : He fainted..In a swone & a swogh, as he swelt wold.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10763 : Elan..was draghen fro the Duke..in dede swone.
b
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)6220 : He fylle downe And deyd..yn a suowne [vr. suown].
c
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)35/5 : Thy seruauntys saue, lord, fro synful sownde In wyl, in werk, in dede, and in thouht.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. sound 1.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. swoon.