adv. (or ppl. a.) Also 4–5 asuowe, aswo, aswou, aswowe, aswogh, assowe. [Interchanging in 14th c. with on swowe, in swowe, as if f. A prep.1 + SWOUGH sb.; but perhaps originally = iswowe:—iswowen:—OE. ʓeswóʓen senseless, fainted, pa. pple. of swóʓan to overgrow, choke, in the phrase ‘to fall iswowen, iswowe, or aswowe’ to fall in a faint; cf. aslope, awake, athirst.] In a swoon; = A-SWOON.
[Cf. c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., II. 336. Se læʓ … ʓeswóʓen betwux þam ofsleʓenum.
c. 1205. Lay., 3074. He feol iswowen [1250 hiswoȝe].
c. 1300. St. Brandan, 10. And ful adoun i-suoȝe.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 2497. For hungre þai fulle y-sowe.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 87. And fel doun on swowe.]
c. 1320. R. Brunne, Medit., 490. Aswo she fyl doun yn þe felde.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 3304. Sir Arthour was aswowe.
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 496. Hurre moder adoune assowe dudde falle.
c. 1460. Lybeaus Disc., 1171. Aswogh he fell adoun.
