sweg

Old English

Alternative forms

• swœ̄ġ
• sƿēġ — wynn spelling

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *swōgiz (“sound, noise”), related to Proto-Germanic *swōganą from Proto-Indo-European *(s)weh₂gʰ-. Cognate with Old Norse sœgr (“tumult, noise”) and Latin vāgiō (“cry, wail”). More at sough, swoon.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sweːj/

Noun

swēġ m

1. unregulated sound, noise

   Ne wind ne wætres swēġ

   Neither wind nor the sound of water

2. regulated sound, noise

   Engla þrēatas siġelēoþ sungon, swēġ wæs on lyfte ġehīered

   Bands of angels sang victory songs, the sound was heard in the sky

3. sound of an instrument, music, tone

   Hearpan swinsiġende swēġ

   The hearp's singing sound

   Hēo ġehīerde bellan swēġ

   She heard the tone of the bell

Declension

Declension of swēġ (strong a-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	swēġ	swēġas
accusative	swēġ	swēġas
genitive	swēġes	swēġa
dative	swēġe	swēġum

Related terms

• swōgan

Descendants

• Middle English: swei, sweȝ