Forms: α. 1 swelʓan, (-sweolʓan, -swylʓan), 3rd sing. swilhþ, swilʓþ, swylʓþ, -swyleþ, swelhþ, swelʓþ, swelþ, swelʓeþ, 3 swelȝe(n, 3rd sing. sweleð, 4 swelghe, swelugh, -igh, swelwe, Kent. -suelȝe, 3rd sing. zuel(ȝ)þ, -zuylþ, 4–5 swelewe, -owe, 5 -awe, swelle, swelwyn, swellyn; Sc. 4 swely, 5–6 suelly, 5–6 (9 dial.) swelly, 6 swellie, 9 dial. swill(e)y. β. 2–3 swoleȝen, 3 -uwen, sw(e)olhen, sw(e)olȝe, Orm. swollȝhenn, 3–5 swolewe(n, swolwe, 4–5 swolow(e, swolo(n, 5 swoolow, sqwolwe, 6 Sc., 9 dial. swolly, 6–7 swollow. γ. 3 -swalȝe, 4–6 swalow(e, 6 Sc. swallie, 6–7 swallowe, 9 dial. swalley, 6– swallow. Pa. t. str. 1 swealʓ, 1–2 swealh, 3 swaluȝ, -sualȝ, 4 swalewe, Kent. -zualȝ; wk. 4 swelwed, swelowede, suelid, -ud, -yt, 5 swelwyd, swellyd, swelud; 4 swolȝed, swolewede, swolowyd, squolowde, 5 swolewed, -owed, swolut, sowoluyd; 4 swalud, swalled, 5 swalod, 6– swallowed. Pa. pple. str. 1 -swolʓen, (-swelʓen), 3 iswolwe, isuolȝe, swolȝe(n, 3–5 swolwe, 4 a-swolwe, Kent. -zuolȝe; wk. (í)swelewed, -owed, sweliȝhid, swelwid; Sc. and north. 5 swelȝed, suelȝit, suelled, 6 suellyit; 4 swolȝed, (i)swolwed, swolewed, -owid, 5 -owet, swolwyd, swolyt, 6 Sc. swolit; 4 swalughid, 5 sualoghed, swaloyd, 6 swalowed, 6– swallowed. [Com. Teut. orig. str. vb. (not recorded for Gothic): OE. swelʓan, swealh, swulʓon, swolʓen = OLFrank. (far)suelgan, MDu. swelgen, swalch, geswolgen (Du. zwelgen), MLG. swelgen, swelligen, (LG. swelgen), OHG. swel(a)han, swelgan, swalh, giswolgin (MHG. swelhen, swelgen, G. schwelgen wk.), ON. svelga, svalg, sulgu, solginn, also wk. (MSw. svālgha, svalgh, svolgh, sulghen, solghin, also swolghet, Sw. svälja, Da. svælge); f. base swelg-: swalg-, represented also in the forms given s.v. SWALLOW sb.2; ulterior relations are undetermined.
As in German and the Scandinavian languages, this verb in English has become weak.
The encroachment of the o of the pa. pple. and the a of the pa. t. upon the pres. stem is evidenced from the 12th and 13th centuries, respectively: it was perhaps furthered by association with SWALLOW sb.1]
1. trans. To take into the stomach through the throat and gullet, as food or drink. In early use and still poet. also more generally = to eat or drink up, devour: cf. FORSWALLOW. Also with down, in, up (see 10 a).
α. c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., II. 230. Laures leaf ceowe and þæt seaw swelʓe.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 43. Ne þaue þu þat storm me duue, ne þat þe deuel me swelȝe.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 315. He drageð ðe neddre of de ston … and sweleð it.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xlvii. (Effame), 179. Bestis … Þat var of sa gret cruelte, Þat þai wald ryf & swely sone Mane or best.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 70. Þe more fishes swelewen þe lasse.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 482/2. Swelwyn (K. swellyn, P. swolowyn), glucio.
c. 1480. Henryson, Orpheus & Eurydice, 351. Thus Cerberus to swelly sparis nane.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lviii. 6. Sum swelleis swan, sum swelleis duke.
1536. Bellenden, Cron. Scot. (1821), I. p. xliv. Eftir the … quantite of the dew that thay swellie, thay consave and bredis the perle.
β. [c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 123. He … forswoleȝeð þene hoc forð mid þan ese.]
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 181. Teð hine grindeð. Tunge hine swoleȝeð. Ðrote turneð hine.
13[?]. Sir Beues (A.), 2764. Ȝenande & gapande on him so, Ase he wolde him swolwe þo.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 117. Þat þou swolow no more þan ys nede.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Manciple’s Prol., 36. See how he ganeth lo this dronken wight, As though he wolde swolwe vs anon right.
14[?]. Tundale’s Vis., 485. This hogy best … His sette to swolo [v.rr. swelowe, swolewe] couetows men. Ibid., 491. In tho profecy hit is wryton thus That a best schall swolewo [v.r. swelowe] the covetows.
1448–9. Metham, Amoryus & Cleopes, 1352. Þe serpent a-sundyr þe bak dotht byte, And afftyr sqwolwyth yt in.
γ. [c. 1275. Lay., 28453. Ævm wurðest þu Winchæstre, þæ eorðe þe scal forswalȝe (c. 1275 for-swolȝe).]
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xi. 27. Syne sall the swallow [v.r. swellie] with his mouth The dragone Death.
1534. Lyndwode’s Const. Provinc., 2 b. Pure wyne onely gyuen to theym to drynke that they maye the more easely & soner swalowe downe the sacramente whyche they haue receyued.
1617. Moryson, Itin., I. 245. The Ianizaries … did so swallow our wine, as when it was spent, we were forced to drinke water.
1677. Johnson, in Ray’s Corr. (1848), 128. [Salmons] swallow the bait with the hook down into the stomach.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 2 Jan. 1684. A fellow who eate live charcoal … champing and swallowing them down.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1824), III. 6. There is a power of animal assimilation lodged in the stomach of all creatures … converting substances they swallow into a fluid fitted for their own peculiar support.
1835. T. Mitchell, Acharn. of Aristoph., 910, note. A prize for the person who … should at a given signal first swallow a certain quantity of wine.
pa. t. str. c. 1000. Eccles. Instit., in Thorpe, Anc. Laws (1840), II. 398. He hiʓ swealh, & hiʓ eft aspaw on þa hattestan liʓas.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 19/605. Heo me nam and swaluȝ me in.
c. 1400. St. Alexius (Laud 622), 611. A whal hym swalewe at oo word ffor oo morsel in hast.
pa. t. wk. a. 1300. Cursor M., 15383. Son it was þat morsel bun,… And Iudas suelid [Gött. suelud, Fairf. squolowde, Trin. swolewed] it onan.
13[?]. St. Mergrete, in Leg. Cath. (1840), 97. He toke hir in his foule mouthe And swalled hir flesche & bon.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 3785. Man & best he swelwed & et.
c. 1440. Alphabet of Tales, 242. Þe devull in liknes of a dragon swalod hym hand & fute.
1481. Caxton, Reynard, xxvii. (Arb.), 61. The roeke may wel complayne, for I swolowed in dame sharpbeck his wyf.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xiv. Sussex … swallowed the medicine without farther hesitation.
pa. pple. str. a. 1250. Owl & Night., 146. Þeos vle … sat toswolle and tobolewe So heo hedde one frogge iswolwe [v.r. isuolȝe].
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1976. Wilde der Hauen min sune swolȝen her.
13[?]. Sir Beues (A.), 786. A … starede on Beues wiþ eien holwe, Also a wolde him haue a-swolwe.
pa. pple. wk. 1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), IV. 441. Som of hem þat flye,… delyuered hem of ieweles of gold þat þey hadde i-swolwed to fore þat þey flyȝ.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 734. Þe seele calfe … þat cuthbert buke had swelyed.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 200. A gret horryble dragon … wold haue swolyt her.
1560. Rolland, Seven Sages, 61. My self this mater saw … That ane Infant was swellyit with ane sow.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., III. xxxii. 195. Pills … swallowed whole, have the vertue to cure.
1779. Mirror, No. 50, ¶ 11. Having swallowed a short breakfast.
1872. Tennyson, Gareth & Lynette, 1308. Some hold that he hath swallow’d infant flesh, Monster!
1910. Encycl. Brit., II. 28/2. The bait had to be swallowed by the pike before the hook would take hold.
b. In fig. or allusive phr. To swallow one’s spittle: (a) in renderings of Job vii. 19, where the reference is to the difficulty of swallowing when in distress; † (b) to restrain anger or other strong feeling, to repress the rising gorge. To swallow a camel, a gudgeon, a spider, a tavern-token: see CAMEL 1 c, GUDGEON sb.1 2 b. SPIDER sb. 1 d, TAVERN sb. 4 d.
c. 1400. Pety Job, 40, in 26 Pol. Poems, 122. Thow woldest suffer neuer more Me to swolowe my salyue?.
c. 1421. 26 Pol. Poems, 108. How longe sparest þou me noȝt, To swolwe my spotel, bot it me gryue?
1535. Coverdale, Job vii. 19. Why goest thou not fro me, ner lettest me alone, so longe till I swalow downe my spetle? [Similarly 1611.]
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 118. Owre men moued with greate hope and hunger of golde, beganne ageine to swalowe downe theyr spettle.
1580. Lodge, Reply Gosson’s Sch. Abuse (Hunter. Cl.), 15. Mithinks while you heare thys I see you swallowe down your owne spittle for reuenge.
a. 1592. Greene, Jas. IV., V. iv. None of you both, I see, but are in fault; Thus simple men, as I, do swallow flies.
1631. Massinger, Believe as You List, I. ii. Hee durst not stay mee. Yf hee had, had founde I woulde not swallowe my spettle.
a. 1714. G. Lockhart, in L. Papers (1817), I. 221. [They] were resolved not to swallow a cow and stick at the tail; and as they had begun, carried on, and finished their projects.
1733. Swift, On Poetry, 122. And if you find the general vogue Pronounces you a stupid rogue,… Sit still, and swallow down your spittle.
c. absol. or intr. To take food, drink, etc., into the stomach through the gullet; to perform the act of deglutition, as in an effort to suppress emotion.
a. 1700. in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ., IX. 345. She not being able to swallow so as to communicate.
1803. Med. Jrnl., X. 493. Every time he attempted to speak or swallow, he became more convulsed.
1883. Stevenson, Treas. Isl., I. ii. He kept swallowing as if he felt what we used to call a lump in the throat.
1906. Charlotte Mansfield, Girl & Gods, xvii. ‘I wonder if we hamper Psyche?’ ‘Don’t!’ cried Phynides and swallowed quickly.
† 2. trans. To taste (also fig.). Obs. rare.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter xxxiii. [xxxiv.] 8. Gustate et videte quoniam suauis est dominus, swelighis and sees for soft is lord.
1340. Ayenb., 106. Huanne þe man onderuangþ þise yefþe he zuelȝ[þ] and smackeþ and uelþ þe zuetnesse of God. Ibid., 123. Loue of charite nimþ and zikþ and zuelȝþ and halt.
a. 1400. Relig. Pieces fr. Thornton MS., ii. (1914), 48. Þou sese with thyn eghne, heris with thyne eres, Swelawes with thi mouthe, Smelles with þi nese.
3. transf. To take into itself (physically); to cause to disappear in its interior or depths; to, engulf. Also with down, in, up (see 10 b).
c. 1200. Ormin, 10224. Na mar þann helle maȝȝ beon full To swollȝhenn menness sawless.
c. 1290. Beket, 2168, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 168. Þe eorþe openede onder heom for-to swolewen hem a-liue.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, xiii. 5. A grafe oppynand, þat slas … and swalows þaim in.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., C. 363. To be swolȝed swyftly wyth þe swart erþe.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, II. 528. Whan tempest doth the shippes swalowe.
c. 1400. Sc. Trojan War, II. 2274. That swelt[h] half of my schippis has Suelled.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 4. Helle ȝeonyng, and galpyng … forto swolon hym ynto þe payne þat neuer schall haue ende.
1552. Lyndesay, Monarche, 5999. The erth sall ryue, And swolly thame, boith man and wyue.
1667. Milton, P. L., XII. 196. The Sea Swallows him with his Host.
c. 1690. trans. Marana’s Lett. Turkish Spy (1694), I. II. xi. 125. After this Isle was suddenly swallowed down into the Sea.
1855. Motley, Dutch Rep., VI. i. (1866), 771/2. The lower part of the face was swallowed in a bushy beard.
1905. E. Clodd, Animism, § 9. 45. The earthquake that swallowed man and beast.
† b. refl. of a river losing itself in another.
1623. trans. Favine’s Theat. Hon., II. i. 67. Where the Riuer of Lipp … runneth to swallow it selfe [orig. vient se perdre] in the Rhine.
4. fig. a. To make away with, destroy, consume, cause to vanish (as if by devouring or absorption into itself). See also 10 c.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter cxxiii. 2 [cxxiv. 3]. Perauntire þai had swelighid vs lifand.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1268. Wyth þe swayf or þe sworde þat swolȝed hem alle.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, Prol. 12. Sothe stories ben … swolowet into swym by swiftenes of yeres.
c. 1450. Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.), 83. But God in us have habytacion, Peraventure oure enemyes shulde swelle us.
1533. Gau, Richt Vay, 45. As S. Paul sais … Deid is swolit throw wictore.
1616. Holland, Camden’s Brit. (1637), 689. Three Schooles … which the greedy iniquity of these our times hath already swallowed.
1643. in Verney Mem. (1907), I. 301. I see my ruine at the very dore ready to swallow mee.
1818. Scott, Br. Lamm., x. The apartment was suddenly illuminated by a flash of lightning, which seemed absolutely to swallow the darkness of the hall.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. I. iv. To-day swallowing Yesterday, and then being in its turn swallowed of To-morrow.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, V. 432. Sloughs That swallow common sense.
1870. Morris, Earthly Par., II. III. 400. All strife was swallowed of festivity.
b. To cause to be ‘lost’ in something; to ‘drown,’ ‘absorb,’ engross, occupy wholly. (Now only with up: see 10 d.)
c. 1330. Spec. Gy de Warw., 642. Þe pine of helle hem gan to swolewe.
1434. Misyn, Mending of Life, xi. 125. All my hert … is turnyd in-to heet of lufe, & it is swaloyd In-to a-noþer Ioy and a-nodir form.
1645. G. Daniel, Wks. (Grosart), II. To Rdr. 2. In Some I have bene lost and Swallowed from my first intentions, by newer Thoughts.
c. 1698. Locke, Cond. Underst., § 36. The necessary Provision for Life swallows the greatest part of their Time.
c. To take in eagerly, ‘devour’ (with one’s ears or mind).
1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, Prol. (Skeat), l. 2. Men … that with eeres openly sprad, so moche swalowen the deliciousnesse of jestes and of ryme … that of the goodnesse … of the sentence take they litel hede.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, IV. xii. 35. Now lat ȝone cruell Troiane swelly and see [orig. hauriat oculis] This our fyre funerall.
1595. Shaks., John, IV. ii. 195. I saw a Smith … With open mouth swallowing a Taylors newes.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), I. 419. A man who weds himself to study, and swallows many books.
1834. Maginn, in Blackw. Mag., XXXV. 747. Dosy, who sate in open-mouthed wonder, swallowing them [sc. his stories] down as a common-councilman swallows turtle.
d. To take for oneself, or into itself, as a territory or other possession; to absorb, appropriate. (See also 10 e.)
1637. in Foster, Crt. Min. E. Ind. Comp. (1907), 267. [Without allowing for forfeiture of the bond for private trade, misapplication of the Company’s money, or for] swalloweing [Burt’s estate].
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 18 Nov. 1679. The Duke of Buckingham, much of whose estate he had swallowed. Ibid., 23 Sept. 1683. That the French King might the more easily swallow Flanders … whilst we sat unconcern’d.
1888. Bryce, Amer. Commw., xci. III. 263. One finds in the United States … many people who declare that Mexico will be swallowed.
e. Theatr. slang. To get up (a part) hastily.
1890. Barrère & Leland, Slang Dict., Swallow the cackle, (theatrical), to learn a part.
1898. Tit Bits, 30 July, 338/1. The remaining acts [of the play] were in turn ‘swallowed’ during the successive intervals.
5. To accept without opposition or protest; to take (an oath, etc.) without demur or lightly.
a. 1591. H. Smith, Wks. (1867), II. 13. It is very like that these men swallow many sins, for God is never so forgotten as in feasting, and sporting, and bargaining.
1632. Mrs. Singer, City Madam, I. i. Here ’s no gross flattery! Will she swallow this?
1646. Bp. Maxwell, Burd. Issach., in Phenix (1708), II. 303. I cannot sufficiently wonder, how the High Court of Parliament of England hath swallow’d and sworn their Covenant.
1762–71. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), III. 107. The former laid a wager that there was no flattery so gross but his friend would swallow.
1789. Gouv. Morris, in Sparks, Life & Writ. (1832), I. 325. The Representatives of this nation … are ready to swallow this proposition by acclamation.
1810. Bentham, Packing (1821), 191. Give them an oath to swallow.
1822. J. Flint, Lett. Amer., 171. In England, affidavits are often managed in a simpler way. Swallowing a customhouse oath is there a well known expression.
1853. Lytton, My Novel, IV. xiv. People take you with all your faults, if you are rich; but they won’t swallow your family into the bargain.
b. esp. To accept mentally without question or suspicion; to believe unquestioningly. † Also with down.
1594. Nashe, Unfort. Trav., 69. Beleeue nothing,… yet seeme thou as thou swallowedst al, suspectedst none.
1643. Ord. Lords & Com., Westm. Conf., Pref. (1658), C 3. So many, especially of the younger sort, do swallow down almost any error that is offered them.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., I. iv. § 24. To make a Man swallow that for an innate Principle, which may serve to his purpose, who teacheth them.
1691. Ray, Creation, II. (1692), 83. He that can swallow the raining of Frogs.
1786. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), I. 516. I find that I could swallow the last opinion, sooner than either of the others.
1791. Mme. D’Arblay, Diary, 20 Aug. [She] will believe no good of them, and swallows all that is said of evil.
1870. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (ed. 2), II. App. 661. The legend is still swallowed by novelists.
1880. Littledale, Plain Reas., lxii. 135. Over-readiness to swallow marvels … is credulity.
6. To put up with, submit to, take patiently or submissively (something injurious or irksome). (Cf. F. avaler.)
1611. Middleton & Dekker, Roaring Girl, D.’s Wks. 1873, III. 185. If I swallow this wrong, let her thanke you.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage, I. xvii. 80. The mother (not able to swallow her shame and grief) cast her selfe into the lake.
1623. J. Chamberlain, in Crt. & Times Jas. I. (1848), II. 442. And how many disgraces and indignities he swallowed, to bring his own ends about.
1710. Swift, Lett. to Abp. King, 10 Oct. They cannot give themselves the little troubles of attendance that other men are content to swallow. Ibid. (1710), Jrnl. Stella, 2 Nov. I took my four pills last night, and they lay an hour in my throat…. I suppose I could swallow four affronts as easily.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xvii. He was pompous, but with such a cook what would one not swallow?
7. To refrain from expressing or uttering; to keep down, repress. Also with down.
a. 1642. S. Godolphin, Poems, Ps. cxxxvii. Deny us freedom of our groans And bid us swallow all our moans.
1719. Young, Busiris, IV. i. They … swallow down their tears to hide them from me.
a. 1771. Gray, Dante, 6. I swallow’d down My struggling Sorrow.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, I. v. ¶ 1. Swallowing my grievances [orig. dévorant ma douleur], [I] set myself to wait on my noble masters.
1820. Byron, Juan, V. xxiv. Swallowing a heart-burning sigh.
1851. D. Jerrold, St. Giles, iv. 31. [She] swallowed her mirth, and … busied herself at the cupboard.
1868. Morris, Earthly Par. (1870), I. I. 325. Then in his throat a swelling passion rose, Which yet he swallowed down.
1878. Bosw. Smith, Carthage, 296. Hannibal swallowed his resentment.
8. To take back, retract, recant. (Cf. EAT v. 2 c.)
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., I. i. 132. As low as to thy heart, Through the false passage of thy throat: thou lyest…. Now swallow down that Lye. Ibid. (1603), Meas. for M., III. i. 235. [He] swallowed his vowes whole, pretending in her, discoueries of dishonor.
1703. Farquhar, Inconstant, III. i. I have swallow’d my Words already; I have eaten them up.
1848. Lowell, Biglow P., Ser. I. iv. 16. A marciful Providence fashioned us holler O’ purpose thet we might our principles swaller.
1889. Barrie, Window in Thrums, xx. 195. If Jamie be living now he has still those words to swallow.
9. To pronounce indistinctly or fail to pronounce; to slur over. (Cf. F. manger.)
a. 1791. Wesley, Wks. (1830), XIII. 479. Some persons mumble, or swallow some words or syllables.
10. Swallow up. a. lit. To swallow completely or voraciously; to eat up, devour. Also absol.
1535. Coverdale, Obad. i. 16. Yee dryncke shall they, and swalowe vp, so that ye shall be, as though ye had neuer bene.
1600. J. Pory, trans. Leo’s Africa, IX. 346. The crocodile … swalloweth vp both the baite and the hooke.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 10, ¶ 3. Like Moses’s Serpent, that immediately swallow’d up and devoured those of the Ægyptians.
1880. Stewart & Tait, Unseen Univ., Introd. 15. Just as we cannot conceive of a man swallowing up [ed. 1876 devouring] himself, so [etc.].
b. transf. To engulf completely; to cause to disappear utterly in its depths. Cf. 3.
1526. Tindale, Rev. xii. 16. The erth opened her mought, and swalowed vppe the rever.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. cvi. 17. So the earth opened & swalowed vp Dathan.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 453. The shippes being … swallowed vp of the billowes did perishe.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 99. Certane difficile myres, quhilkes … sal gaip wyd, and swallie him vp in a maner to the deipth.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit. (1637), 587. The first [river] is Hans, which being swallowed up under the ground, breaketh up againe three miles off.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., IV. § 24. Because London was not swallowed up or consumed by fire from heaven.
1803. Scott, Lett., in Lockhart (1837), I. xi. 392. This district … was swallowed up by the sea.
1823. Lamb, Elia, Ser. II. Old Margate Hoy. Sunken ships, and sumless treasures swallowed up in the unrestoring depths.
1832. R. & J. Lander, Exped. Niger, I. vi. 245. The little legs of the child were swallowed up in his clumsy yellow boots.
1853. G. P. R. James, Agnes Sorel (1860), II. 103. The Castle gates swallowed them up, and nothing more was seen of them.
c. fig. To make away with or destroy completely; to cause to disappear utterly (as if by absorption). Cf. 4 a.
1530. Tindale, Answ. More, I. xviii. Wks. (1572), 286/2. In ye world to come loue shall swalow vp the other twoo [sc. faith and hope].
1535. Coverdale, Ps. lvi[i]. 3. He shal … saue me from the reprofe of him that wolde swalowe me vp.
1626. Gouge, Serm. Dignity Chivalry, § 18. Delight in the things which men do, swalloweth up the pains that is taken about them.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 149. Those thoughts … swallowd up and lost in the wide womb of uncreated night.
c. 1720. De Foe, Mem. Cavalier (1840), 121. All people looked upon themselves as ruined and swallowed up.
1758. J. Dalrymple, Ess. Feudal Property (ed. 2), 122. The feudal law carries with it … a system of private rights, which swallow up all others, wherever it comes.
1847. Helps, Friends in C., I. vii. 105. Another rule is, not to let familiarity swallow up all courtesy.
1862. Stanley, Jew. Ch. (1877), I. v. 96. The man is swallowed up in the cause, the messenger in the message.
1864. Bryce, Holy Rom. Emp., v. (1875), 68. Since the powers it gave were autocratic and unlimited, it must swallow up all minor claims and dignities.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 446. Must not all things at last be swallowed up in death?
1885. Manch. Exam., 12 May, 5/3. Nearly a month will be swallowed up in the verification of the returns.
1901. Scotsman, 28 Feb., 7/1. The Irish names in the box swallowed up all the rest.
d. To occupy entirely, engross, ‘absorb,’ ‘drown’; = 4 b.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 499 b. Blynded with selfe love, drowned in malice, swallowed upp with his owne conceipt.
1738. Wesley, Ps. VIII. iii. Wonder dims my aching Eyes, And swallows up my Soul.
1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 194. The original intention of the experiment was lost sight of, by an unexpected result which swallowed up all their attention.
1857. Keble, Lett. to Denison, 14 Oct. (in Maggs’s Catal., March [1897], 54/1). Since I came home [I] have been swallowed up with my little book on Eucharistical Adoration.
1891. Kipling, Light that Failed, x. 205. He fell to work, whistling softly, and was swallowed up in the clean, clear joy of creation.
e. To take completely into itself, or for oneself; to appropriate, absorb (= 4 d); † in quot. 1544, to take fully upon oneself.
1544. Betham, Precepts War, I. lxiii. D iv. A faythfull armye wyll swallowe vp all parylles, before that so lyberall a capytayne shuld haue any shame or reproche.
1654. Bramhall, Just Vind., ii. (1661), 21. The oppressions of the Court of Rome, which would swallow up … all original Jurisdiction.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 15 July 1683. The French King … having swallow’d up almost all Flanders.
1743. Pococke, Descr. East, I. IV. i. 162. In upper Egypt there were formerly twenty-four provinces, but many of them are now swallow’d up by Arab Sheiks.
1884. Sat. Rev., 7 June, 737/1. Morocco … has escaped being swallowed by France because Spain has guarded it.
1889. Gretton, Memory’s Harkback, 157. With Exton is joined the hamlet of Horn, now swallowed up in the Park.
† f. To take in eagerly: = 4 c. Obs. rare.
1593. Shaks., Lucr., 1409. About him were a presse of gaping faces, Which seem’d to swallow vp his sound aduice.
g. To pass over (a distance) rapidly.
(Cf. DEVOUR 8 b.)
1890. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Col. Reformer (1891), 188. Three miles had been swallowed up ere the team steadied. [Cf. quot. 1899 s.v. SWALLOWED ppl. a.]
