Obs. Forms: 1 suotnis(se, swotnysse, 3–4 swot-, 4 swote-, suotnesse; 4 sootnes. [f. SOOT a. + -NESS.] The character or quality of being sweet; sweetness.
c. 1000. in Cockayne, Shrine, 16. Mycel swotnysse stænc.
c. 1000. Rituale Eccl. Dunelm. (Surtees), 88. In stencg svotnisses, in odore suavitatis.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 92. Efter þet me iveleð his swete swotnesse,—efter þet me luueð hine more oðer lesse.
a. 1300. Leg. Rood (1871), 28. Þe suotnesse þat þer-of com, velde al þat lond.
1382. Wyclif, Numb. xv. 3. Brennynge smelle of swetnes [v.r. sootnes] to the Lord. Ibid., Ecclus. xxiv. 23. I as a vyne frutede swotnesse of smel.
