swien

See also: Swien

Middle English

Etymology

Old English swigian (“to be or become silent, quiet or still”), from Proto-Germanic *swīgijaną, *swīgāną. Cognate with Dutch zwijgen (“to be silent, keep quiet”), ‎ German schweigen (“to be silent, keep quiet, stop talking”).

Verb

swīen

  1. to be silent, to refrain from speaking or making sound

Usage notes
  • Not to be confused with sweien (“make a sound”), with which it was homophonous by the 13th century.[1]

Alternative forms
  • swigen, swigigen, swiȝie; swie

References
  1. Edna Rees Williams, The Conflict of Homonyms in English (1944), page 100
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