† aˈswough, aswow(e, adv. (or ppl. a.)
Also 4–5 asuowe, aswo, aswou, aswowe, aswogh, assowe.
[Interchanging in 14th c. with on swowe, in swowe, as if f. a- prep.1 + swough n.; but perhaps originally = iswowe:—iswowen:—OE. ᵹeswóᵹen senseless, fainted, pa. pple. of swóᵹan to overgrow, choke, in the phrase ‘to fall iswowen, iswowe, or aswowe’ to fall in a faint; cf. aslope, awake, athirst.]
In a swoon; = a-swoon.
| [Cf. c 1000 ælfric Hom. II. 336 Se læᵹ..ᵹeswóᵹen betwux þam ofsleᵹenum. 1205 Lay. 3074 He feol iswowen [1250 hi⁓swoȝe]; c 1300 St. Brandan 10 And ful adoun i-suoȝe; c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 2497 For hungre þai fulle y-sowe. c 1350 Will. Palerne 87 And fel doun on swowe.] c 1320 R. Brunne Medit. 490 Aswo she fyl doun yn þe felde. c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 3304 Sir Arthour was aswowe. c 1420 Chron. Vilod. 496 Hurre moder adoune assowe dudde falle. 1460 Lybeaus Disc. 1171 Aswogh he fell adoun. |