swithe, v. Obs. exc. dial.
(swid). Forms: 3 swiðe, -sweðen, 4 swiþe, pa. tense swath, 4 swyþe, 5 pa. pple. -swythyn, 6 pa. pple. swithen.
[a. ON. sv{iacu}ða, pa. tense sveið, pa. pple. sviðinn to singe, to smart (MSw. swidha, swe(e)dh, swidhin to singe (trans. and intr.), to smart, Sw. svida to smart, Norw. svida, Da. svide, svie), related to ON. svið singed sheep's heads, sviða roasting, burning, singeing, sviði (MSw. swidhi) smart from burning: see also swithen, swither v.2 The verb occurs compounded in pr. pple. forswiðande (Ancr. R., Titus MS.) and inf. forsweðen (Gen. & Ex.): see for- prefix1 5.]
1. trans. To burn, scorch, singe.
| c 1220 Bestiary 70 Ðe sunne swiðeð [MS. swideð] al his [sc. the eagle's] fliȝt. a 1300 E.E. Psalter cv[i]. 18 Þe lowe it swath sinful dounright. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. C. 478 Þe warme wynde of þe weste wertes he swyþez. [c 1440 Alphabet of Tales 497 A dynt of þe throndre smate þaim bathe down, so at þe clerk lay vnder-nethe þe preste,..and all þe preste membrys war all to-swythyn.] 1590 R. Bernard tr. Terence, Adelphos v. iii, I will make her as swithen and blacke as a coale. |
2. intr. To smart. north. dial.
| 1876 Whitby Gloss., Swid, Swidge, or Swither..‘My hand swidded’. |