swei

Middle English

Alternative forms

• sweȝ

Etymology

From Old English swēg, from Proto-West Germanic *swōgi, from Proto-Germanic *swōgiz (“sound, noise”), related to Proto-Germanic *swōganą from Proto-Indo-European *(s)weh₂gʰ-. Cognate with Old Norse sœgr (“tumult, noise”) and Latin vāgītus.

Replaced by swough, swouȝ > sough from the verb swoȝen. More at sough, swoon.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈswɛi̯/

Noun

swei (plural sweies)

1. unregulated sound, din, noise

   On þisse deie, þet is, pentecostes, and wittesunnedeie on ure speche, com ferliche muchel swei of heofne and fulde al þa upfleunge mid fure.

   On this day, that is of Pentecost, and Whitsunday in our speech, came suddenly much sound from heaven and filled all the upper levels with fury

2. regulated sound, music

   Þurh þæs deofles lore, þeo þe likede wel... he swefede þe mid þen sweiȝe; swote þu sleptest longe on þine bedde...

   Through the devil's instruction, the one who liked thee well, he lulled thee to sleep with his music, when sweetly thou slept long in thine bed

3. tinnitus, ringing in the ears

   Ȝif þar sy sweȝ oþþer sar innan þan heafedan... Nim tweȝen styccan fulle

   If there be ringing or sore in the head... Take two doses fully

Related terms

• swowen, swoȝen