Obs. Forms: 3 sweamen, 3–6 [OE. *swǽman, found only in the compound áswǽman to be grieved or afflicted. Cf. prec.]
1. trans. To afflict, grieve. Hence Swemand ppl. a., afflicting, grievous.
c. 1205. Lay., 16099. He scal alle þa swiken swemen [printed swenien] mid eiȝe.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 312. Beo we sorie þet we euer schulden wieððen swuch feder, & sweamen [v.r. sweme] swuchne wardein. Ibid., 398. Non vuel ne schal hermien þe, no þing ne schal sweamen þe.
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 17. Hwa þat sche þenne hu þe engles beo isweamed þat seoð hare suster swa fohrfulliche afallet.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 563. Þe swemande sorȝe soȝt to his hert.
c. 1450. Mankind, 868, in Macro Plays, 33. Yt swemyth my hert, to thynk how on-wysely I hawe wroght.
2. intr. To grieve, mourn. Also in vbl. sb.
c. 1450. Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.), 81. Your swemynge smytyht to myn herte depe.
14[?]. Promp. Parv., 482/2. Swemyn, molestor, mereo … Swemynge, or mornynge.
3. pass. and intr. To be overcome with faintness.
c. 1440. York Myst., xl. 40. Þane on his bakke bare he þame by, A crosse vnto Caluery, Þat swettyng was swemyed for swetyng.
1501. Douglas, Pal. Hon., III. xc. I … langit sair for to haue swemit agane.
