Now rare. [f. SWEET a.; in OE. swétan = OHG. suoʓen (MHG. sueʓen).]
1. trans. To make sweet, sweeten. a. lit. (to the taste, smell, etc.).
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., III. 58. Nim þonne huniʓ be dæle & swet þone drænc.
c. 1200. Ormin, 1649. Þe sallt Þatt ure mete sweteþ.
c. 1440. Capgrave, Life St. Kath., V. 1959. It longeth to flowres swhiche lycoure for to swete.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 3 b. Hounger is the best sauce … Because the same bothe sweeteth all thynges, and also is a thyng of no coste ne charge.
1545. Raynold, Byrth Mankynde, 131. With fayre water fyrste soden and sweted with sugre.
1580. T. Newton, Approved Med., 24. The Nutmegge … stayeth vomittes, & sweeteth the Breathe.
1604. Drayton, Owle, 69. Sweeting her Nest, and purging it of Doung.
1622. Wither, Philarete, D v b. The mornings dewie roses: That … Cast perfumes that sweet the Aire.
1765. Proc. Gen. Court Martial on Lieut. Gov. P. Thicknesse, etc. 49. It is the Lieutenant. Governor’s Orders that the soldiers in Garrison sweet and clean the parade … twice a week.
1896. Godey’s Mag. Feb., 173. When … pine-woods sweet the air.
b. fig. (to the mind, feelings, etc.).
a. 900. Cynewulf, Juliana, 525 (Gr.). He [sc. the devil] mec feran het … þæt ic þe sceolde synne swetan.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., E’s Pref. What thyng better sweetteth ye endityng of Marcus Tullius?
1597. Breton, Auspicante Jehoua, Wks. (Grosart), II. 11/2. Beeing clensed from my sinne … and sweeted in my soule, by the oile of Thy grace. Ibid. (1600), Daffodils & Primroses, ibid., I. 14/2. Queene of suche powre As sweeteth euery sowre.
a. 1601. ? Marston, Pasquil & Kath. (1878), II. 37. I haue a thankefull heart, Tho not a glorious speech to sweet my thankes.
1609. Bible (Douay), Ecclus. xxvii. 26. In the sight of thyne eyes he will sweete his mouth.
2. To affect in a sweet or pleasant way; to give pleasure to, delight, gratify.
c. 1555. Harpsfield, Divorce Hen. VIII. (Camden), 292. To sweet the people’s ears with pleasant words [he] told them [etc.].
a. 1600. in Ashmole, Theat. Chem. Brit. (1652), 196. In thyne owne howse thow maist well gett A good Morsell of meat thy mouth to sweet.
1602. Marston, Antonio’s Rev., III. iii. Heavens tones Strike not such musick to immortall soules As your accordance sweetes my breast withall.
1879. Blackw. Mag., Jan., 58. [West Indian Negro] You will hear of something that will sweet you greatly.
