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Swete

Swete is an archaic spelling of the English adjective sweet, used in Middle English and Early Modern English texts. Today it is encountered mainly in historical quotations and linguistic discussions rather than in everyday language.

Etymology and forms: The form derives from Old English swete meaning pleasant or agreeable. It is part

Usage: In literary and religious texts, swete appears in descriptions of flavor, fragrance, or demeanor, carrying

Modern status: In contemporary English, swete is generally labeled obsolete or archaic. It is studied primarily

See also: sweet, Middle English, Old English, Chaucer, spelling history.

of
a
broader
pattern
of
early
English
orthography
in
which
vowels
and
final
letters
varied
by
manuscript
and
author.
The
modern
form
"sweet"
became
standardized
as
spelling
conventions
shifted
during
the
Early
Modern
period,
and
variants
such
as
sweete
and
swete
appear
in
various
medieval
manuscripts
and
poetry.
senses
of
pleasantness,
charm,
or
desirability.
It
is
often
found
in
poetic
lines
or
prose
that
sought
to
evoke
sensory
or
emotional
qualities
in
a
way
that
reflects
historical
spelling
practices
rather
than
contemporary
usage.
by
scholars
of
Old
and
Middle
English,
historical
linguistics,
and
textual
criticism.
As
a
spelling
variant,
it
offers
insight
into
the
phonology
and
orthography
of
past
stages
of
the
language
and
the
process
by
which
modern
spellings
emerged.