adv. Obs. Forms: 1 swiþ-, swið-, suiðlice, 2–3 swiþe-, swiðelic(c)he, 4 swyþely, 4–5 swythly, 6 sweythyli, Sc. swy(i)thlie. [OE. swíþlíce, f. swíþ strong, etc.: see SWITH and -LY2.]
1. = SWITH adv. 1, 2.
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxvi. § 4. Me ðincð nu þæt þin ʓecynd & ðin ʓewuna flite swiðe swiðlice wið ðæm dysiʓe.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xxvii. 14. Se dema wundrode swiþlice.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 45. We aȝen þene sunne dei swiþeliche wel to wurþien.
c. 1205. Lay., 4421. And þe king him answerede swiðeliche fæire.
2. = SWITH adv. 3, 4.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1479. Sir Wawen Settez hir sof[t]ly by his syde, & swyþely ho laȝez.
1370[?]. Robt. Cicyle (Harl. MS. 525), in Warton, Hist. Eng. Poetry (1840), I. 185. The sexteyne of the cherche att last Swythly to hym he ganne goo fast.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex. (Dublin MS.), 1184. Þe Bishop … Gase hym downe … Swythly to þe swyers & þaim þe sware ȝeldez.
1560. Rolland, Seven Sages, 99. And the trew treuth swyithlie I sall him schaw.
15[?]. King & Barker, 104, in Hazl., E. P. P. (1864), I. 9. The hors sped him sweythyli, he sped him wonderley fast.
