swiþost

• swīðost

• IPA^(key): /ˈswiː.θost/, [ˈswiː.ðost]

swīþost (comparative swiþor)

1. superlative degree of swīþe; especially, mostly, most
   • c. 992, Ælfric, "Preface"

     For þisum antimbre ic gedyrstlæhte, on Gode truwiende, þæt ic ðas gesetnysse undergann, and eac forðam þe menn behofiað godre lare swīðost on þisum timan þe is geendung þyssere worulde, and beoð fela frecednyssa on mancynne ærðan þe se ende becume, swa swa ure Drihten on his godspelle cwæð to his leorning-cnihtum, "Ðonne beoð swilce gedreccednyssa swilce næron næfre ær fram frymðe middangeardes.

     For this cause I presumed, trusting in God, to undertake this task, and also because men have need of good instruction, especially at this time, which is the ending of this world, and there will be many calamities among mankind before the end cometh, according to what our Lord in his gospel said to his disciples, "Then shall be such tribulations as have never been from the beginning of the world.

   • late 10th century, Ælfric

     Menn behōfiaþ gōdre lāre, swīðost on þissum tīman.

     People are in need of good teaching, especially at this time.

   • c. 890, The Voyage of Ohthere and Wulfstan

     Swīðost hē fōr þæder for þām horshwalum, for þon hīe habbaþ swīðe æðele bān on heora tōðum.

     Mostly he went there for the walruses, since they have very fine ivory in their teeth.

   • late 10th century, Ælfric, "Sermon on the Beginning of Creation"

     Þā cōm God þǣrtō þā þā hīe swīðost worhton, and sealde ǣlcum menn þe þǣr wæs synderlīċe sprǣċe.

     Then God came there when they were working hardest, and gave everyone there a separate language.

2. above all
   • c. 992, Ælfric, "On the Beginning of Creation"

     Þa wearð þa hrædlice micel mennisc geweaxen, and wæron swiðe manega on yfel awende, and gegremodon God mid mislicum leahtrum, and swīðost mid forligere.

     Then there was rapidly a great increase of people, and very many were turned to evil, and exasperated God with various crimes, and above all with fornication."

• mǣst
• synderlīċe

• ealra swīþost