[f. SWOON v. + -ING2.] That swoons or faints; characterized by swooning.
1646. N. Lockyer (title), England faithfully watcht with in her wounds, or Christ as a father sitting up with his children in their swooning state.
1820. Keats, Lamia, I. 219. She … fell into a swooning love of him.
1831. Scott, Ct. Rob., xxxi. The father’s attention was instantly called to support his swooning child.
1886. Symonds, Renaiss. It., Cath. React. (1898), VII. xii. 201. A tone of swooning piety blent with sensuous luxuriousness.
1904. M. Hewlett, Queen’s Quair, III. ii. 366. She drowsed into a swooning sleep.
Hence Swooningly adv.
[c. 1475. Partenay, 356t. Zownyngly she fil wofully to grounde.]
1859. K. Cornwallis, Wreck & Ruin, II. xiv. 99–100. Clutching him in her embrace she sobbed like a child, and half swooningly gave vent to her oppressed feelings, of love, of joy, and of excitement.
1864. in Webster.
