v. Obs. Also 3 swiȝe, swihe. [OE. swíʓan and swīʓian, corresp. to OFris. swîgia, OS. swîgôn, MLG., MDu. swîgen (Du. zwijgen), OHG. MHG. swîgên (G. schweigen); ultimately related to Gr. σῑγή silence, σῑγᾶν to be silent.] intr. To be silent. Also in ppl. a. (swihende), silent.
Beowulf, 1699 (Gr.). Ða se wisa spræc sunu Healfdenes (swiʓedon ealle).
c. 900. Bæda’s Hist., II. ix. (1890), 124. He … oft longe ana sæt swiʓende muðe.
c. 1205. Lay., 16820. Alle heo weoren stille & swiȝeden mid stæuen.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 101. Bitwenen his þrowenge & his ariste he lai on his sepulcre & swiede.
a. 1225. Swihende wike [see below].
Hence ǁ Swidaȝ, any of the last three days of Holy Week; † Swimesse [MASS sb.1], the canon of the mass, which is said in a low voice (cf. early mod.G. stillmesse, now = low mass); † Swiwike [WEEK sb.], Holy Week (cf. G. stilltuoche).
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom. (Th.), I. 218. Circlice þeawas forbeodaþ to secgenne æniʓ spel on þam þrym swiʓ-daʓum.
c. 1000. in Napier, Contrib. OE. Lexicogr. (1906), 60. Se prest stod on þære swimæsse. Ibid., He wæs on þere swiʓmesse & ʓeornlice bæd for þon cincge.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 100. Þe þre daȝe biforen estre cleped swidaȝes. Ibid., 97. Þe holi word þe ure helende … seide … and efter him prest hem seið atte swimesse.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 70. Al þe swiðwike [? swiȝwike; v.rr. swihende wike, swiwike] uort non of Ester even.
