Obs. (exc. dial.). Forms: 1–2 swica, 2 swice, 2–4 swike, suike, 3 sweoke, swoke, (swiche), 3–4 suyke, 5 sweke. [OE. swica: see SWIKE v. In Sc. and north. dial. swaik, swyke, swick = deceitful person, worthless fellow.] A deceiver; a traitor.

1

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. xxvii. 63. We ʓemunon þæt se swica sæde þa he on life wæs æfter þrym daʓon ic arise.

2

a. 1100.  O. E. Chron., an. 1055. Utlaʓode mann Ælfgar eorl forðon hin man wearp on þæt he was þes cynges swica. Ibid. (1154), an. 1135. Þa ricemen þe wæron swikes.

3

a. 1200.  Moral Ode, 103, in O. E. Hom., I. 165. Þa swicen [Egerton MS. swikele, later copy swikene] and ta forsworene.

4

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 93 Ueond þet þuncheð freond is swike ouer alle swike.

5

c. 1230.  Hali Meid., 45. Ne geineð þe nawt, sweoke.

6

c. 1300.  Havelok, 1158. Þat wicke þral, þat foule swike.

7

c. 1400.  R. Gloucester’s Chron., 6399 (MS. β). Alle traitours & luþer swikes [v.rr. suiken, sweken, swykes] god late hom so spede.

8