† Swevening

vbl. sb. Obs. Forms: 3–4 swevening, (4 suev-, 4–5 -yng), 4–5 swefnyng(e. [f. SWEVEN v. + -ING¹.] Dreaming; a dream.

c. 1275.  Lay., 19701. He … com to þan kinge þar he lay a sweuekinge [read sweveninge].

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 4513 (Cott.). Pharaon þe king Sagh in slepe suilk a sueuening.

a. 1300.  St. Kenelm, 116, in E. E. P. (1862), 50. A sweueninge þat þe child mette.

a. 1366[?].  Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 1. Many men sayn þat in sweueninges Ther nys but fables & lesynges.

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 759. With þe swoghe of þe see in swefnynge he felle.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), vii. 27. Þe seuen deed qwhete eres, whilk kyng Pharao sawe in swefnyng.

1423.  James I., Kingis Q., clxxiv. Though that my spirit vexit was tofore In sueuenyng, alssone as euer I woke, By twenty fold It was In trouble more.

  So † Swevening (6 Sc. sweyning) ppl. a., dreaming.

1570.  Satir. Poems Reform., x. 12. Dame Dreming, all clad in blaki Sabill, With Sweyning Nymphis in cullouris variabill.