Obs. Forms: 1 swefet, sweofot, 3 swevet, sweovet, 7 swivet. [OE. swefet sweofot, f. swef- (see SWEVEN).] Sleep, slumber.
Beowulf, 1581 (Gr.). He Hroðgares heorðʓeneatas sloh on sweofote.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 77. Þat we don alse þing doð þe haueð lein on swe[ue]te, forquichieth þan here time cumeð.
c. 1205. Lay., 17773. Þe king læi on sweuete.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 1427. Ha slepten swoteliche a sweouete.
1623. C. Butler, Fem. Mon., iii. (ed. 2), G iij. If there happen a milde and warme houre, they [sc. bees] presently perceiuing it, awake out of their swiuet. [Cf. SWEVEN sb. 2, quot. c. 1645.]
