Old English edit

Etymology edit

From Proto-Germanic *swēsaz (one's own, familiar, trusted), *swēsa- (own, relation), from Proto-Indo-European. Cognate with Old Frisian swēs (related), Old Saxon swās (dear), Old Norse sváss (dear, beloved), Gothic 𐍃𐍅𐌴𐍃 (swēs, own). The Indo-European root is also the source of Latin sibi, Russian себя́ (sebjá).

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

swǣs

  1. dear, beloved
  2. own

Usage notes edit

  • Occurs mostly, but not entirely, in poetry.

Declension edit

Derived terms edit