swith

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English, from Old English swīþ (“strong, mighty, powerful, active, severe, violent”), from Proto-Germanic *swinþaz (“strong”), from Proto-Indo-European *swento- (“active, healthy”). Cognate with Old Saxon swīth, Middle High German swind (Modern German geschwind (“fast, quick, swift”)), Dutch gezwind (“fast, quick, swift”), Old Norse svinnr, Gothic 𐍃𐍅𐌹𐌽𐌸𐍃 (swinþs, “strong”). Related to sound.

Adjective

swith (comparative swither, superlative swithest)

1. (dialectal or obsolete) Strong; vehement.

Etymology 2

From Middle English swith, swithe, from Old English swīþe (“very much, exceedingly, severely, violently, fiercely”), from Proto-Germanic *swinþa (“strongly”), from Proto-Indo-European *swento- (“active, healthy”).

Alternative forms

• swithe

Adverb

swith (comparative swither, superlative swithest)

1. (dialectal or obsolete) Quickly, speedily, promptly.
2. (dialectal or obsolete) Strongly; vehemently; very.