Obs. Forms: 1–4 swote, 4–5 sote, 4–6 soote. [OE. swóte, = MDu. soete, zoete, OHG. suozo, suazo (MHG. suoze), the adv. corresponding to the adj. swéte SWEET.] Sweetly, in various senses.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gram., xxxvii. 220. Oleo,… ic stince swote.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 53. He … bret hine [the cheese] for þon þet he scolde swote smelle.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 238. Forði þet tu sleptest swote.
a. 1300. Leg. Rood (1871), 24. Of ech maner frut þat he sei þat smolde also swote.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 2612, Hypermnestra. Thensens out of the fuyr out rekyth sote.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 3459. Spyce & greyn I make to enspyre soote.
c. 1450. Merlin, ix. 133. So swote sauoured … that fer men shulde fele the odour.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., April, 111. They dauncen deffly, and singen soote, in their meriment.
Comb. c. 1425. St. Mary of Oignies, II. ix. in Anglia, VIII. 175. Þe sote-sauourynge cloþes of þis spouse of Cryste.
