sweetadj.adv.

Brit.

/swiːt/, U.S.

/swit/

Forms: Old English swoete, Northumbrian suoet, suet, Old English–1500s swete, Middle English–1500s swet, Middle English–1500s suete, Middle English suet, Scottish sweyt, Middle English–1700s Scottish sweit, Middle English–1600s sweete, (Middle English sweote, Middle English swiete, Middle English suette, swett, squete, sweyte, Kent. zuete, Middle English swette, sqwete, swyte, 1500s Scottish sweitt, sueit, 1600s suiet, 1700s Scottish suit), 1500s– sweet. comparative Old English swet(t)ra, Middle English swettere, (Old English swoetra, Middle English swettre, swetture, Middle English swettore, swettour, Middle English swettir, swettur; Middle English squetter, suetter), Middle English swetter; Middle English swetere, Scottish swetare, 1500s Scottish swetar, suetar, Middle English– sweeter. superlative Old English–Middle English swetest, Middle English sweteste, Middle English swetist, Middle English– sweetest; also Middle English swetteste, Middle English swettest, Middle English swettist.

Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.

Etymology: Common Germanic: Old English swéte , = Old Frisian swêt , Old Saxon swôti , Middle Low German sote , sute , (Low German söte , söt ), Middle Dutch soete , suete (Dutch zoet ), Old High German suoȥi, swuoȥi (Middle High German sueȥe , German süss ), Old Norse sœ́tr (Swedish söt , Danish sød ) < Germanic *swōtja- , *swōti- , < swōt- (whence Old English swóte soot adv.) < Indo-European swād- (with variant swăd-), in Sanskrit svādús sweet, svádati to be sweet, Greek ἡδύς sweet, ἥδεσθαι to rejoice, ἡδονή pleasure, ἁνδάνειν (ἕαδον, ἕαδα) to please, Latin suāvis ( < *swādwis) sweet, suādēre to advise (properly, to make something pleasant to). Gothic shows another grade of the root in sūts.

A. adj.

a. Pleasing to the sense of taste; having a pleasant taste or flavour; spec. having the characteristic flavour (ordinarily pleasant when not in excess) of sugar, honey, and many ripe fruits, which corresponds to one of the primary sensations of taste. Also said of the taste or flavour. Often opposed to bitter or sour (so also in figurative senses).See also special collocations in C. 1.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sweetness > [adjective]

sweetc888

sootc950

doucea1350

sweetlya1350

softa1398

lusciousc1420

dulcet1440

mellite?1440

sugarishc1450

dulce1508

ambrosiana1522

figgy?1549

nut-sweet1586

nectaredc1595

dulcid1596

marmalady1602

fat1610

unsharp1611

unsour1611

marmalade1617

dulcorous1676

dulceous1688

saccharaceous1689

sugar-candyish1852

saccharic1945

c888 Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. xxxix. §9 Þæt is forhwi se gooda læce selle þam halum men seftne drenc & swetne.

OE Phoenix 193 Þonne feor ond neah þa swetestan somnað ond gædrað wyrta wynsume ond wudubleda to þam eardstede.

c1250 Death 106 in Old Eng. Misc. Hwer beoð þine dihsches Midd þine swete sonde?

1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 1398 Delytable, & swete of sauoure.

1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xii. 264 Þe larke..is..swifter þan þe pecok, And of flesch,..fatter and swetter.

1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xix. 60 Somme [apples] ar swettere þan some and sonnere wollen rotye.

c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 67 Hony is swettist to him of alle othere metis.

?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xiiii The yonger and the grener that the grasse is the softer and the sweter it wyl be.

1574 T. Newton tr. G. Gratarolo Direct. Health Magistrates & Studentes I j b The fleash that is about the bones is sweeter and better to digest then other.

1594 C. Marlowe & T. Nashe Dido ii. i Ile giue thee Sugar-almonds, sweete Conserues.

1596 Raigne of Edward III sig. D1^v A sugred sweet, and most delitious tast.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost v. 68 O Fruit Divine, Sweet of thy self, but much more sweet thus cropt.

1765 Museum Rusticum 4 398 Fine-flavoured, mellow, sweet beef from beasts fed with oil-cakes.

1819 W. Scott Bride of Lammermoor x, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. I. 279 A tart—a flam—and some nonsense sweet things, and comfits.

1827 M. Faraday Chem. Manip. xxiv. 620 The liquid will communicate a very aromatic sweet taste to it.

1882 R. Bentley Man. Bot. (ed. 4) iii. ii. 823 Secondary products of metastasis, some of which, as sweet secretions, &c., are necessary for the perpetuation of the species.

1883 Cassell's Dict. Cookery 772/1 Rose Sauce for Sweet Puddings.

b. In similative and other proverbial phr.

ΚΠ

c825 Vesp. Ps. xviii. 11 [xix. 10] Dulciora super mel & favum, swoetran ofer hunig & biobræd.

a1400–50 Wars Alex. 3855 Was neuir na hony in na hyue vndire heuen swettir.

c1403 J. Lydgate Temple Glas 1251 Swete is swettir eftir bitternes.

14.. Lat. & Eng. Prov. (Douce 52) lf. 16 b Hungur makyth harde bonys swete.

c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Miller's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 20 He hym self as sweete as is the roote Of Lycorys.

1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue i. viii. sig. C Swete meate wil haue sowre sauce.

a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) i. iii. sig. B.ij^v Soft fire maketh sweete malte, good Madge.

1607 S. Hieron Christians Iournall in Wks. (1620) I. 20 The sweet meats of wickednes will haue the sowre sauce of wretchednes and misery.

a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) iii. ii. 107 Sweetest nut, hath sowrest rinde.

1671 T. Hunt Abecedarium Scholasticum 79 The sweetest flesh is next the bone.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Pastorals vii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 32 Fair Galathea, with thy silver Feet, O, whiter than the Swan, and more than Hybla sweet.

1721 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. (at cited word) After sweet Meat comes sowr Sauce.

1898 W. W. Jacobs Choice Spirits in Sea Urchins (1906) 90 ‘The meat's awful.’ ‘It's as sweet as nuts,’ said the skipper.

a. Pleasing to the sense of smell; having a pleasant smell or odour; fragrant. Also said of the smell or odour.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > fragrance > [adjective]

sweet900

sootc950

aromatic1366

merrya1398

well-smellinga1398

sweet-smellingc1400

lusciousc1420

savoury?a1425

redolingc1429

redolent?a1439

odorate?1440

flagrant1450

redolentc1450

well-savouringc1450

aromatous1483

softa1500

well-aired1505

balmy1508

ambrosiana1522

embalmeda1529

fragrantc1530

perfumed1538

scented?c1562

scented1567

balm-like1569

sweet1573

aromatizate1576

aromatical1578

Sabaeana1586

ambrosial1590

rich1590

perfumed1591

sweet-scented1591

reperfumed1593

balm-breathing1595

nectaredc1595

spiced1600

fuming1601

fumed1612

scentful1612

balsam1624

perfumy1625

odoraminous1656

aroma-olent1657

suaveolent1657

aromatized1661

essenced1675

balsamy1687

flavorous1697

balsamic1714

well-scented1726

scenty1738

breathing1757

spicy1765

flavouriferous1773

aromal1848

bescented1863

euodic1868

nosy1892

900 tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (1890) iii. viii. 174 Hordærn..balsami & þara deorwyrðestena wyrta & þara swetestena þara þe in middangearde wæron.

971 Blickl. Hom. 59 Þa swetan stencas gestincað þara wuduwyrta.

c1175 Lamb. Hom. 53 Þe sweote smel of þe chese.

c1220 Bestiary 508 Vt of his ðrote is smit an onde, Ðe swetteste ðing ðat is o londe.

a1272 Lune Ron 151 in Old Eng. Misc. 97 Þu art swetture þane eny flur.

a1300 Cursor Mundi 1381 Cipres, be þe suete sauur, Bitakens ur suete [Fairf. squete] sauueur.

c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 5 Zephirus..w^t his sweete breeth.

c1425 Cast. Persev. 801 in Macro Plays 101 Parkys, poundys, & many pens, Þei semyn to ȝou swetter þanne sens.

1542 A. Borde Compend. Regyment Helth xx. sig. K.i^v Parsley..doth cause a man to haue a swete breth.

1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream ii. i. 252 I know a banke..Quite ouercanopi'd..With sweete muske roses, and with Eglantine.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) Induct. i. 47 Burne sweet Wood to make the Lodging sweete.

1650 T. Fuller Pisgah-sight of Palestine iii. 382 Pillasters..of..Almuggin trees..which, if odoriferous,..made that passage as sweet to the smell, as specious to the sight.

1782 W. Cowper Hope in Poems 156 Sweet scent, or lovely form, or both combin'd.

1850 Ld. Tennyson In Memoriam lxxxiv. 124 Sweet after showers, ambrosial air.

†b. spec. Perfumed, scented. See also sweet-bag n., sweet-ball n., sweet-powder n. at Compounds 1a, sweet-water n. 2a. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > fragrance > [adjective]

sweet900

sootc950

aromatic1366

merrya1398

well-smellinga1398

sweet-smellingc1400

lusciousc1420

savoury?a1425

redolingc1429

redolent?a1439

odorate?1440

flagrant1450

redolentc1450

well-savouringc1450

aromatous1483

softa1500

well-aired1505

balmy1508

ambrosiana1522

embalmeda1529

fragrantc1530

perfumed1538

scented?c1562

scented1567

balm-like1569

sweet1573

aromatizate1576

aromatical1578

Sabaeana1586

ambrosial1590

rich1590

perfumed1591

sweet-scented1591

reperfumed1593

balm-breathing1595

nectaredc1595

spiced1600

fuming1601

fumed1612

scentful1612

balsam1624

perfumy1625

odoraminous1656

aroma-olent1657

suaveolent1657

aromatized1661

essenced1675

balsamy1687

flavorous1697

balsamic1714

well-scented1726

scenty1738

breathing1757

spicy1765

flavouriferous1773

aromal1848

bescented1863

euodic1868

nosy1892

1573–4 in A. Feuillerat Documents Office of Revels Queen Elizabeth (1908) 208 Sweete lightes of white wex for the same vii^s.

1592 Acct.-bk. W. Wray in Antiquary (1896) 32 79 A barrell swet sop, xxix s.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) iv. iv. 249 You promis'd me a tawdry-lace, and a paire of sweet Gloues.

1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. Polit. Touch-stone in tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso 407 The Monopoly of making sweet Gloves to that Nation whose hand did stink insufferably.

a. Free from offensive or disagreeable taste or smell; not corrupt, putrid, sour, or stale; free from taint or noxious matter; in a sound and wholesome condition.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > [adjective] > of health: good > conducive to health > non-infective

sweeta1325

cleanc1384

gnotobiotic1949

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3302 A funden trew ðor-inne dede Moyses, and it wurð swet on ðe stede.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6352, l. 6354 Þe water was al suete alson, þe water þat sua fuli stanc, Suetter neuer þai siþen drank.

1501 Reg. Privy Seal Scotl. I. 100/1 [3½] lastis of salmond, ful, rede, and swete.

1596 J. Harington New Disc. Aiax sig. E4^v Because hee had not seene better to the keeping sweet of the streets.

1607 T. Dekker & J. Webster West-ward Hoe i. sig. B2^v He hath an excellent trick to keepe Lobsters and Crabs sweet in summer.

1663 Marquis of Worcester Cent. Names & Scantlings Inventions § 100 [They] furnish Cities with Water..as well as keep them Sweet, running through several Streets.

1681 T. Langford Plain Instr. Fruit-trees xv. 139 Cyder Fruit..laid upon a sweet and dry floor, in a heap.

1685 Compl. Servant Maid 144 You must wash your own Linen, keeping your self sweet and clean.

1754 Compl. Cyder-man 114 A sufficient Number of sweet Casks to put it into.

1791 Trans. Soc. Arts 9 p. xvii Preserving Fresh Water sweet, for the use of Seamen during long voyages.

1859 J. M. Jephson & L. Reeve Narr. Walking Tour Brittany v. 55 I question whether the beds would be so clean and sweet.

1861 I. M. Beeton Bk. Househ. Managem. xvii. 380 In choosing a ham, ascertain that it is perfectly sweet.

1883 W. S. Gresley Gloss. Terms Coal Mining Sweet, free from fire-damp or other gases, or from fire-stink.

b. spec. Of water: Fresh, not salt. Also of butter: Fresh, not salted. (Cf. German süsswasser, French eau douce, etc.) See also sweet-water n.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > drink > water > [adjective] > fresh

freshOE

sweetc1000

the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preserving or pickling > [adjective] > preserved with salt > not

unbrined1733

sweet1925

c1000 Sax. Leechd. II. 134 Drince wegbrædan seaw on swetum wætre.

c1220 Bestiary 320 He lepeð ðanne wið mikel list, Of swet water he haueð ðrist.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 6349 Þei fond..Watir bittur as any bryne As bryne hit was & no swettur.

1481 W. Caxton tr. Myrrour of Worlde xx. 109 Alle watres come of the see; as wel the swete as the salt.

1553 R. Eden tr. S. Münster Treat. Newe India sig. Gj In this deserte are..founde bytter waters: but more often fresshe and sweete waters.

1591 A. W. Bk. Cookrye (rev. ed.) 8 b In the seething pot put in a peece of sweet Butter.

1661 R. Lovell Πανζωορυκτολογια, sive Panzoologicomineralogia Isagoge sig. A7 Living in rivers and other sweet waters.

1709 T. Robinson Ess. Nat. Hist. Westmorland & Cumberland iv. 23 The subterrene Waters are those sweet Mineral Feeders, which do implete the Body of the Earth.

1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) I. 84 Animals which..live alternately on land or in sweet water.

1925 N.Y. Produce Rev. & Amer. Creamery 27 May 95 (advt.) Specializing in sweet butter.

1952 M. Small Special Diet Cook Bk. 201 Grocers..catering to the Jewish trade usually carry sweet butter.

1971 S. Walker Highland Cookbk. 8 Scones are delicious with sweet butter, in Scotland called fresh butter.

†c. Of bread (in 16th cent. versions of and allusions to Scripture): Unleavened. (Opposed to sour as in sourdough n.) Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > bread > [adjective] > unleavened

tharfc950

tharflingc1050

unbarmedc1175

unlifa1325

sweet1526

unleavened1530

matzo1846

leavenless1852

society > faith > artefacts > consumables > bread > [adjective] > unleavened

tharfc950

sweet1526

unleavened1530

azymous1728

1526 Bible (Tyndale) Mark xiv. f. lxvj The fyrst daye of swete breed.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Exod. xxxiv. 18 The feast of swete bred shalt thou kepe.

1593 T. Nashe Christs Teares f. 20 The feast of Tabernacles, the feast of sweet Bread, and the feast of Weekes.

d. Of milk: Fresh, not sour: see sweet milk n. at Compounds 1a.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > dairy produce > [adjective] > relating to milk > fresh

sweet1812

1812 J. Sinclair Acct. Syst. Husbandry Scotl. i. 105 The milk can be sold sweet, as taken from the cow.

e. Old Chemistry and Metallurgy. Free from corrosive salt, sulphur, acid, etc. In modern use also in the Oil Industry, of petroleum or natural gas: free from sulphur compounds, esp. hydrogen sulphide or alkyl mercaptans.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > chemistry > chemical properties > [adjective] > of or relating to miscellaneous other properties

sweet1666

nimble1671

watery1741

unvitriolized1757

greedy1758

unneutralized1758

unvitrifiable1758

free1783

fixed1800

nascent1800

inorganic1831

assimilative1837

unnitrogenized1846

inactive1848

kaligenous1854

unacceptant1866

aggressive1888

oligodynamic1893

chromotropic1899

undissociated1899

osmophoric1901

thermochromic1904

unary1923

non-stoichiometric1943

odoriphoric1944

slow-release1946

sonoluminescent1961

uniaxial1965

the world > the earth > minerals > types of mineral > hydrocarbon minerals > [adjective] > coal > other qualities of coal

knobbly1839

sweet1863

society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > oil or types of oil > [adjective]

sweet1919

society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > mineral material > mineral oil > [adjective] > type of mineral oil

sweet1919

multigrade1959

society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > gas or types of gas > [adjective]

lean1924

wet1926

liquefied1930

sweet1950

1666 R. Boyle Origine Formes & Qualities ii. iv. 315 Chymists..terme the Calces of Metals and other Bodies dulcifi'd, if they be freed from all corrosive salts and sharpness of Tast, sweet, though they have nothing at all of positive sweetness.

1863 Edinb. Rev. Apr. 411 The ‘sweetest’ kinds of coal (the freest from sulphur) are reserved for the smelting furnace.

1881 Trans. Amer. Inst. Mining Engineers 1880–1 9 169 Good, dead, or sweet roasting is complete roasting, i. e., carried on until sulphurous and arsenious fumes cease to be given off.

1911 Rep. 80th Meeting Brit. Assoc. Advancem. Sci. 1910 612 The Coal Measures include ‘sweet’, i.e., non-sulphurous, coals at several horizons.

1919 E. W. Dean Motor Gasoline Properties (U.S. Bur. Mines Techn. Paper No. 214) 25 If the liquid remains unchanged in color and if the sulphur film is bright yellow or only slightly discolored.., the test shall be reported negative and the gasoline considered ‘sweet’.

1950 Industr. & Engin. Chem. Sept. 1882/2 Several high sulfur gas oils were reduced in sulfur contents to those of gas oils from sweet crudes by hydrodesulfurization..at 750°F., 300 pounds per square inch pressure,..and 1000 cubic feet of hydrogen per barrel of charge.

1975 Offshore Engineer Sept. 44/3 The sweet gas is extracted through wells drilled by a Saipem rig.

1980 Blair & Ketchum's Country Jrnl. Oct. 6/3 Light, so-called ‘sweet’, crude yields a high percentage of automotive gasoline.

a. Pleasing to the ear; having or giving a pleasant sound; musical, melodious, harmonious: said of a sound, a voice, an instrument, a singer or performer on an instrument.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > pleasure > quality of being pleasant or pleasurable > [adjective]

winsomea900

sweetc900

likingeOE

i-quemec950

lieflyOE

winlyOE

hereOE

thankfulc1000

merryOE

queemc1175

beina1200

willea1200

leesomec1200

savouryc1225

estea1250

i-wilc1275

winc1275

welcomea1300

doucea1350

well-pleasingc1350

acceptablea1382

pleasablea1382

pleasanta1382

pleaseda1382

acceptedc1384

amiablec1384

well-likinga1387

queemfulc1390

flattering1393

pleasinga1398

well-queeminga1400

comelyc1400

farrandc1400

greable1401

goodlyc1405

amicable?a1425

placablec1429

amene1433

winful1438

listyc1440

dulcet1445

agreeablec1450

favourousc1485

sweetly?a1500

pleasureful?c1502

dulcea1513

grate1523

prettya1529

plausible1541

jolly1549

dulcoratec1550

toothsome1551

pleasurable1557

tickling1558

suavec1560

amenous1567

odoriferous?1575

perfumed1580

glada1586

tickle1593

pleasurous1595

favoursome1601

dulcean1606

gratifying1611

Hyblaean1614

gratulatea1616

arrident1616

solacefula1618

pleasantable1619

placid1628

contentsome1632

sapid1640

canny1643

gustful1647

peramene1657

pergrateful1657

tastefula1659

complacent1660

placentiousa1661

gratifactorya1665

bland1667

suavious1669

palatable1683

placent1683

complaisant1710

nice1747

tasty1796

sweetsome1799

titbit1820

connate1836

cunning1843

mooi1850

gemütlich1852

sympathique1859

congenial1878

sympathetic1900

sipid1908

onkus1910

sympathisch1911

the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > pleasantness of sound > [adjective]

sweetc900

merryOE

well-soundingc1350

sootc1385

soundedc1450

honeyed1592

well-tuned1592

ear-tickling1605

mellisonanta1635

euphonical1668

euphonious1774

euphonous1805

euphonic1814

euphonistic1837

listenable1920

the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [adjective] > pleasant

sweetc900

softc1230

well relesedc1475

chanting1561

satin1635

luting1887

society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > [adjective] > melodious or harmonious

sweetc900

merryOE

softc1230

accordanta1325

well-soundingc1350

cordant1382

sootc1385

songfula1400

melodiousa1425

sugaredc1430

well-toneda1500

tunable1504

dulcea1513

equivalenta1513

consonant?1521

harmonicala1527

harmoniousc1550

consorteda1586

Orphean1593

concentful1595

melodical1596

sweet-recording1598

tuneful1598

sirenical1599

high-tuned1603

nightingale-like1611

soundful?1615

according1626

modulaminous1637

undiscording1645

canorous1646

symphonious1652

concinnous1654

consonous1654

harmonic1667

sirenica1704

symphonial1773

concentual1782

chantant1785

Memnonian1800

melodized1807

Orphic1817

undiscordant1819

concentuous1850

fluting1852

melodic1871

well-orchestrated1872

jarless1876

tuny1885

tunesome1890

c900 tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (1890) iv. iii. 264 Þa geherde he..þa swetestan stefne & þa fægrestan singendra.

a1300 Cursor Mundi 1030 Þar sune es soft and suet sang.

?a1366 Romaunt Rose 768 In loreyn her notes bee Fulle swetter than in this contre.

a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xv. 178 A, myghtfull God, Whateuer this ment, So swete of toyn?

c1500 Melusine (1895) i. 7 He stood styl..to here her swette & playsaunt voyce.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 278/1 Swetetunyng, modulation.

1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. ccxiiii^v iiii. Muses plaiyng on seueral swete instrumentes.

1560 Bible (Geneva) 2 Sam. xxiii. 1 Dauid..the swete singer of Israel.

1599 W. Shakespeare et al. Passionate Pilgrime (new ed.) sig. C8 Cleare wels spring not, sweete birds sing not.

1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. i. 161 Like sweet bells iangled out of time, and harsh.

1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta Nat. & Morall Hist. Indies vii. iii. 500 Their tongue and pronountiation is very sweete and pleasant.

1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 152 A paire of Organs doth make sweet musicke.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 143 Th' Infernal Troops..list'ning, crowd the sweet Musician's side.

1780 W. Cowper Doves 37 Thus sang the sweet sequester'd bird, Soft as the passing wind.

1859 Ld. Tennyson Enid in Idylls of King 18 The sweet voice of a bird.

1878 G. Dubourg Violin (ed. 5) i. 11 The viol instruments were decidedly sweet, but comparatively dull.

b. Hence, applied to music, esp. jazz, played at a steady tempo without improvisation, or to this style of playing and its exponents. Cf. hot adj. 12h. Originally and chiefly U.S.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > jazz > [adjective] > types of

Chicagoan1861

bad1897

hot1918

red-hot1918

soft1921

low-down1922

sweet1924

barrel-house1926

New Orleans1926

straight1926

crazy1927

dirty1927

hotcha1930

jungle1935

solid1935

traditional jazz1935

powerhouse1937

gutty1939

riffy1939

jivey1944

Kansas City1946

cool1948

West Coast1949

far-out1954

nutty1955

swinging1955

mainstream1957

Afro-Latin1958

1924 Variety 9 July 9/3 The style in vaudeville jazz bands this coming season will tend toward the ‘sweet’ and ‘hot’ dance orchestras.

1927 Melody Maker May 477/1 A really good saxophonist..must be able to render a sweet melody correctly phrased and as though his soul were in it, without a trend to exaggerate sloppy sentiment.

1933 Fortune Aug. 47/1 He is decidedly not a sweet trombonist—he doesn't play sentimentally with lots of vibrato.

1934 S. R. Nelson All about Jazz iii. 66 If it is of the melody type, and without much syncopation, the number is treated in the ‘sweet’ manner.

1956 A. Hodeir Jazz: its Evolution & Essence viii. 129 Both ‘straight’ jazz and ‘sweet’ music..make use of a sonority and a melodic and harmonic language that are exaggeratedly sugar-coated.

1981 Oxf. Times 6 Feb. 13/1 The Dorseys' orchestra at this time was sweet rather than swinging, which will disappoint those like myself who prefer the jazzier side of Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey.

5. Pleasing (in general); yielding pleasure or enjoyment; agreeable, delightful, charming. (Only literary in unemotional use: cf. A. 3e)

a. to the mind or feelings.

ΚΠ

c888 Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. xxxv. §4 Hi..meahton eaðe seggan soðspell, gif him þa leasunga næren swetran.

c900 tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (1890) v. xxiii. 482 Me symble swete & wynsum wæs, ðæt ic oþþe leornode oþþe lærde oððe write.

c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 33 Ac swo þe wowe þinkeð biter, þe hwile þe he lesteð, swo þincð wele þe swettere þan hit cumeð þarafter.

c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 152 Drif as he dude þet swete licunge in to smeortunge.

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 210 Paradis, An erd al ful of swete blis.

c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 631 Þe ring was fair to se, Þe ȝift was wel swete.

1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xv. 179 Þough he bere hem no bred, he bereth hem swetter lyflode.

c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. Prol. 83 Persones and parisch prestes..askeþ leue..To singe þer for Simonye, for seluer is swete.

1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xxi. 219 He hadde nat wist wyterly wheþer deþ wer soure oþer sweyte.

c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 66 In the historial parties of the Oold Testament and of the Newe, is miche delectable and sweete.

1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cccxxxvij^v How swete is y^e name of peace, and how comfortable a thing it is.

1567 J. Maplet Greene Forest f. 4^v [It] is otherwise effectuous to bring a man in sweete sleepe.

1575 G. Gascoigne Glasse of Gouernem. iv. vi. sig. Iiii^v Although it seeme vnto some men a sweete thing to commaunde.

1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. iv. 185 + 8 O tis most sweete When in one line two crafts directly meete.

a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) ii. i. 12 Sweet are the vses of aduersitie.

1616 B. Jonson Epicœne iv. v, in Wks. I. 579 Ô reuenge, how sweet art thou!

1638 F. Junius Painting of Ancients 119 Art, abounding with many sweet vices, drew still the eyes..of unadvised spectators.

1650 J. Trapp Clavis to Bible (Gen. xl. 3) 310 A sweet providence; that these obnoxious Officers should be sent to Joseph's prison.

1744 J. Wesley & C. Wesley Coll. Psalms & Hymns (new ed.) i. 51 When He vouchsafes our Hands to use, It makes the Labour sweet.

1785 W. Cowper Task ii. 482 Oh, popular applause, what heart of man Is proof against thy sweet seducing charms?

1785 W. Cowper Task i. 94 Sweet sleep enjoys the curate in his desk.

1801 W. Wordsworth Sparrow's Nest 19 A heart, the fountain of sweet tears.

1876 M. E. Braddon Joshua Haggard's Daughter II. i. 22 It was sweeter to you to help others than to be happy yourself.

1882 W. Ballantine Some Exper. Barrister's Life iv. 41 I received half a guinea, the sweetest that ever found its way into my pocket.

(a) to the senses; esp. to the sight = Lovely, of charming appearance.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > aesthetic quality or good taste > [adjective] > pleasing to the aesthetic sense

gentc1300

sweet?a1366

comelyc1400

pretty1442

poetical1447

beautifula1586

concinnous1662

poetic1731

?a1366 Romaunt Rose 622 And thus he walketh to solace Hym and his folk for swetter place To pleyn ynne he may not fynde.

c1430 Chev. Assigne 44 A seluer cheyne Eche on of hem hadde, a-bowte his swete swyre.

1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xvi. 66 Quhen byrdis syngis on the spray,..For softnes of that sweit sesoune.

1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. x. sig. Y2v Warlike Cæsar, tempted with the name Of this sweet Island.

1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 99 The place where the Marchants meete, called la Loggia, lying vpon the sea, is as sweete an open roome, as euer I saw.

1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. iv. 137 The sweetest face, the youngest age, and whitest skin was in greatest value and request.

1645 R. Symonds Diary (1859) 175 His Majestie lay at Mr. Crompton's howse, a sweet place in a fyne parke.

a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1646 (1955) II. 483 This sweete Towne, has more well built Palaces than any of its dimensions in all Italy.

1812 Ld. Byron Childe Harold: Cantos I & II i. lxxix. 47 On high The corse [of the bull killed in the bull-fight] is pil'd—sweet sight for vulgar eyes.

1837 T. Campbell in Lit. Gaz. 23 Dec. 812 It was as sweet an Autumn day As ever shone on Clyde.

1843 G. Borrow Bible in Spain II. viii. 169 It is a sweet spot, and the prospect which opens from it is extensive.

(b) The phr. sweet in (the, one's) bed has been used with various implications.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual desire > [adjective] > causing sexual excitement or desire

sweet in (the, one's) beda1300

provocatoryc1443

provocative?a1505

marrow-burning?1592

marrow-eating1593

marrow-melting1593

tickle1604

marrow-boiling1605

venereous1611

venerious1620

veneral1651

aphrodisiacal1719

erogenic1887

erogenous1889

erotogenic1909

erotogenous1928

pervy1945

bodacious1991

a1300 Havelok 2927 [He] dide him þere sone wedde Hire þat was ful swete in bedde.

1721 J. Kelly Compl. Coll. Scotish Prov. 290 Sweet in the Bed, and sweir up in the Morning, was never a good Housewife.

a1800 in Laing Sel. Anc. Pop. P. Scotl. (1822) xxiii. Introd. A Clown is a Clown both at home and abroad; When a Rake he is comely, and sweet in his bed.

c. Of song or discourse, and hence transferred of a poet, orator, etc., with mixture of sense A. 4: Pleasing to the ear and mind; pleasant to hear or listen to; sometimes implying ‘persuasive, winning’, †or in bad sense, ‘alluring, enticing’.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > [adjective] > having pleasing speech or eloquent > pleasing (of speech)

well-spoken?a1400

sweetc1405

honeyc1450

mellifluous?a1475

mellifluate1508

well-spoken1539

mellifluent1601

suaviloquent1656

c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 267 Somwhat he lypsed for his wantownesse To make his englyssh sweete vp on his tonge.

1423 Kingis Quair iv His metir suete..full of moralitee.

a1500 R. Henryson in tr. Æsop Fables Prol. l. 3 in Poems (1981) 3 Thair polite termes of sweit rhetore.

1526 Bible (Tyndale) Rom. xvi. 18 By swete preachynges and flatterynge wordes [they] deceave the hertes of the innocentes.

a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) sig. E.j He was so swete in his wordes, that many tymes he was harde more than thre houres togyther.

1612 J. Brinsley Ludus Lit. xiii. 175 Such a one [sc. book] as is most easie, both for the sweetest Latine and choisest matter.

1645 J. Milton L'Allegro in Poems 36 Sweetest Shakespear fancies childe.

1746 P. Francis tr. Horace Art of Poetry 113 Whose rapid Numbers, suited to the Stage,..With sweet Variety were found to please.

d. ironically: cf. fine adj. 7c.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > suffering > displeasure > [adjective] > unpleasant

loatha700

unsweetc890

grimlyc893

unquemeOE

un-i-quemeOE

evila1131

sourc1175

illc1220

unhightlyc1275

unwelcomec1325

unblithec1330

unnetc1330

unrekena1350

unagreeablec1374

uncouthc1380

unsavouryc1380

displeasantc1386

unlikinga1398

ungaina1400

crabbedc1400

unlovelyc1400

displeasing1401

eschewc1420

unsoot1420

mislikinga1425

unlikelya1425

unlustya1425

fastidiousc1425

unpleasantc1430

displicable1471

unthankfulc1475

displeasant1481

uneasy1483

unpleasinga1500

unfaring1513

badc1530

malpleasant?1533

noisome1542

thanklessa1547

ungrate1548

untoothsome1548

ungreeable1550

contrary1561

disagreeable1570

offensible1575

offensive1576

naughty1578

delightlessa1586

undelightful1585

unwisheda1586

unpleasurable1587

undelightsomec1595

dislikeful1596

disliking1596

ungrateful1596

unsweet?a1600

distastive1600

impleasing1602

distasting1603

distasteful1607

unsightly1608

undelectable1610

disgustful1611

unrelishing1611

waspisha1616

undeliciousa1618

unwished-for1617

disrelishing1631

unenjoyed1643

unjoyous1645

mirya1652

unwelcomed1651

unpleasivea1656

sweet1656

injucund1657

insuave1657

unpalatable1658

unhandsome1660

undesirable1667

disrelishablea1670

uncouthsome1684

shocking1703

nasty1705

embittering1746

indelectable1751

undelightinga1774

nice and ——1796

unenjoyablea1797

ungenial1796

uncomplacent1805

ungracious1807

bitter1810

rotten1813

uncongenial1813

quarrelsome1825

grimy1833

nice1836

unrelished1863

bloody1867

unbewitching1876

ferocious1877

displeasurable1879

rebarbative1892

charming1893

crook1898

naar1900

peppery1901

negative1902

poisonous1906

off-putting1935

unsympathetic1937

piggy1942

funky1946

umpty1948

pooey1967

minging1970

Scrooge-like1976

sucky1984

stank1991

stanky1991

1656 G. Collier Vindiciæ Thesium de Sabbato (new ed.) ix. 18 Here's another sweet inference.

1677 G. Miege New Dict. French & Eng. ii. sig. Ccc^v/2 I should have made a sweet business on't for my self.

1725 T. Thomas in MSS. Dk. Portland (Hist. MSS. Comm.) VI. 133 We had a specimen of the sweet road we were to clamber through,..a pretty sharp ascent..full of loose, ragged stones.

1850 F. E. Smedley Frank Fairlegh xl. 334 Oh! they made a sweet row, I can assure you.

e. In colloquial use, an emotional epithet expressive of the speaker's personal feelings as to the attractiveness of the object.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > attractiveness > [adjective]

gracious1340

glorious skinnyc1400

drawing1435

gracefulc1449

attrayant1477

well-favoured1539

alluring1567

graceda1586

attracting1589

attractive1592

winning1596

appealing1598

taking1603

allicient1613

enchantinga1616

motive1615

temptinga1616

allurant1631

catchinga1640

gaining1642

canny1643

charmful1656

charming1664

mignon1671

disarminga1718

prepossessing1737

seducing1749

seductive176.

eye-catching1770

sweet1779

catchy1784

attaching1785

engaging1816

cute1834

cunning1843

taky1854

cynosural1855

smart1860

fetching1880

seductious1883

fruity1900

barry1923

hot stuff1928

swoony1934

dishy1961

dolly1964

jiggy1996

aegyo2007

1779 Mirror No. 41. ⁋7 Miss Betsy had taken down some sweet copies of verses, as she called them, in her memorandum book.

1782 F. Burney Cecilia I. i. iv. 45 She has all Paris in her disposal; the sweetest caps! the most beautiful trimmings! and her ribbons are quite divine!

1840 W. M. Thackeray Barber Cox in Comic Almanack 25 Honourable Tom Fitz-Warter, cousin of Lord Byron's; smokes all day; and has written the sweetest poems you can imagine.

1884 Boston (Mass.) Jrnl. 22 Nov. 2/5 A new fashion in false hair is quite sweet.

1887 A. Jessopp Arcady viii. 240 She falls in love with some sweet thing in hats or handkerchiefs.

f. Used as an intensifier in certain slang phrases (often of a coarse nature) meaning ‘nothing at all’. See also F.A. n. at F n. Initialisms 3a, Fanny Adams n. 2, S.F.A. n. at S n.¹ Initialisms 1. Also sweet nothing.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adjective] > utter or absolute > implying negative

colossal1855

effing1929

cuntinga1935

focking1956

sweet1958

twatting1967

1958 F. Norman Bang to Rights i. 28 You can do sweet B.A. about it.

1959 I. Opie & P. Opie Lore & Lang. Schoolchildren xvii. 365 They stand on the field and they rave and they shout On subjects they know sweet nothing about.

1973 B. Broadfoot Ten Lost Years ix. 95 The government provided sweet bugger all. Absolutely sweet bugger all.

1973 B. Turner Hot-foot vi. 43 What had I gained for my trouble? Sweet nothing, that's what.

6. In extended use: Having an agreeable or benign quality, influence, operation, or effect. Chiefly technical: see quots.

a. Favourable, genial.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > advantage > [adjective] > advantageous or favourable

likinga1387

friendlya1398

sweetc1400

propice1443

favourablec1460

towardly1520

propitious1581

aspectful1611

auspiciousa1616

benigna1631

fautive1667

benevolenta1676

bright1684

the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > [adjective] > and pleasing

goodeOE

graciousa1398

sweetc1400

graceda1586

cushty1929

c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 236 Styffe stremes & streȝt hem strayned a whyle..Tyl a swetter ful swyþe hem sweȝed to bonk.

1594 H. Plat Diuerse Sorts of Soyle 50 in Jewell House Some further & sweeter helps for her barren groundes.

1824 J. C. Loudon Encycl. Gardening (ed. 2) §3295 After the bed has come to a sweet heat, shut down close at night.

b. Of land, products, or the like: Free from bitter or similar deleterious qualities.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > quality of being satisfactory > [adjective]

wellOE

sufferablea1340

worthy1340

sufficient1489

paregala1500

competent1535

something like?1556

right1567

sweet1577

fairish1611

all right1652

fair1656

comfortable1658

decent1711

respectable1750

unrepulsive1787

decentisha1814

fair-to-middling1822

fine1828

christena1838

OK1839

tidy1844

not (or none) so dusty?1856

sweet1898

oke1928

okey-doke1934

okey-dokey1936

tickety-boo1939

cool1951

aight1993

1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry i. f. 24 The land..is..called pleasaunt ground, sweete, blacke, rotten, and mellowed, which are the signes of good ground.

1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball vi. xxiv. 688 Bay..groweth plentifully..by the sea syde in saltishe groundes..and dieth not in the winter season, as it doth in sweete groundes.

1649 W. Blith Eng. Improver xxiii. 140 Which sorts of Land if Rich, and Sweet, will lose Advance by Ploughing.

1765 Museum Rusticum 3 239 The land most suitable for this plant [sc. teazel] is that of a thin sweet surface, and marly bottom.

1839 R. I. Murchison Silurian Syst. i. x. 135 From its sulphureous properties, it is also preferred to coal of the sweetest and best quality.

1840 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 3 296/2 Iron of an excellent quality, which they term sweet-iron.

c. Easily managed, handled, or dealt with; working or moving easily or smoothly.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > duping, making a fool of > [adjective] > fooled, duped

foolified1584

fool-taken1608

cozened1610

gullified1624

gulled1647

sweet1673

bubbled1681

bilked1682

imposed-upon1706

cheated1709

duped1756

pigeoned1777

swindled1809

thimblerigged1840

befooled1842

bamboozled1866

spoofed1958

dicked1972

the world > action or operation > easiness > [adjective] > not hindering or encumbering > not hindered or encumbered > operating or progressing easily

current1577

expedite1578

glib1594

facile1607

well-oiled1614

well-going1623

undisobliging1715

sweet1725

swimming1768

the world > action or operation > advantage > convenience > [adjective] > easily managed

handsome1440

wieldya1450

maniable1484

willing?a1513

tractable1555

wieldsome1565

manuable1594

manageable1598

handleable1611

subject1619

manuala1631

handy1640

flippant1677

wieldablea1688

clever1715

able1741

habile1741

docile1774

sweet1883

hand-tame1911

1673 R. Head Canting Acad. 192 The fourteenth a Gamester, if he sees the Hic sweet, He presently drops down a Cog in the street.

1725 New Canting Dict. Sweet, easy to be taken in: Also expert, dexterous, clever: As, Sweet's your Hand, said of one who has the Knack of stealing by Sleight of Hand.

1801 J. Strutt Glig-gamena Angel-ðeod i. i. 16 Beasts of sweet flight,..the buck, the doe, the bear, the rein deer, the elk, and the spytard.

1883 R. L. Stevenson Treasure Island ii. vii. 55 You never imagined a sweeter schooner—a child might sail her.

1915 Blackwood's Mag. Sept. 316/1 She was a sweet ship in a seaway if one knew her idiosyncrasies.

1937 Times 11 Dec. 4/7 The engine is, in my opinion, more responsive and sweet than its predecessor.

1955 Times 10 May 7/6 The clutch is exceptionally sweet in operation, a point which helps to make the car easily manoeuvrable.

1975 Washington Post 25 Jan. a19/1 As J. Robert Oppenheimer said of the hydrogen bomb: ‘It was so technically sweet, we had to do it.’

†d. Art. Delicate, soft. Obsolete. (Cf. sweeten v. 8b.)

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > work of art > [adjective] > qualities of work of art

uniforma1552

sweet1662

stiff1779

chargeda1806

late1851

ineffective1858

detailed1867

schematic1868

rhythmical1880

functional1881

late-period1927

engaged1947

engagé1955

retardataire1958

1662 J. Evelyn Sculptura iv. 66 So sweet, even and bold was his work.

1662 W. Faithorne Art of Graveing & Etching xvii. 21 It is at the first operation, that you are to cover all the faintest and sweetest places.

7. transferred (chiefly in phr.) Fond of or inclined for sweet things, esp. in sweet tooth n. at Compounds 1a.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > appetite > [adjective] > having (good) appetite > having appetite for specific kind of food

sweet-mouthed1542

sweeta1616

sweet-toothed1615

sugary1664

a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) iii. i. 320 She hath a sweet mouth.

a. Dearly loved or prized, precious; beloved, dear.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > loved one > [adjective]

lief and deara900

dearOE

sweetOE

lovedOE

dearlyOE

liefOE

dearworth?c1225

chere1297

lovered1340

beloveda1375

dearworthyc1374

chary?a1400

sugaredc1475

tender1485

chereful1486

affectionatea1513

dilect1521

chare1583

ingling1595

darling1596

affected1600

in the love of1631

jewel-darling1643

adorable1653

fonded1684

endeared1841

dotey1852

OE Cynewulf Juliana 94 Ðu eart dohtor min seo dyreste ond seo sweteste in sefan minum.

c1275 Passion our Lord 64 in Old Eng. Misc. 39 Vor vuele he dude god, Þer-vore hi at þen ende schedden his swete blod.

c1375 Lay Folks Mass Bk. (MS. B.) 449 Swete ihesu make me saue.

c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Dido. 1042 Whom schulde he louyn but this lady swete?

c1386 G. Chaucer Prol. to Melibeus ⁋18 By goddes sweete pyne.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 14401 God luued þe Iuus lang beforn þat his suet [Fairf. squete, Gött. suete, Trin. Cambr. swete] sun was born.

c1425 Seven Sag. (P.) 2080 Thou wylt by schent, by swyte Jhesus.

c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) ii. 3 I..render grace..to god my swet creatore.

c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 11381 All sweire þai, full swiftly, vpon swete haloues.

1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 20^v Hee wyll bee..readie to offer himselfe a sacrifice for your sweet sake.

1583 H. Howard Defensatiue sig. Ppiv^v Policarpus, the sweete Martir of our Lorde.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) ii. vi. 30 Ayming at Siluia as a sweeter friend.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) iv. vi. 55 Thy Life to me is sweet .

1780 F. Burney Early Jrnls. & Lett. (2003) IV. 129 Ah how different & how superior our sweet Father!

b. In forms of address, frequently affectionate, but formerly also (now archaic) respectful or complimentary.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > terms of endearment > [adjective]

sweeta1225

ownc1300

deara1325

littlec1405

whitec1460

bonny1540

honeya1556

nitty1598

honey-sweeta1616

old1644

dearie1691

ou1838

diddy1963

the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous forms of address or title > [adjective]

goodeOE

liefc897

sweeta1225

beauc1300

gentlec1330

comelya1375

faira1375

reverentc1410

reverend1422

virtuous?1473

singular1485

lucky1568

respectable1749

a1225 Leg. Kath. 1536 Mi swete lif, se swoteliche he smecheð me..þet al me þuncheð..þet he sent me.

c1330 Spec. Gy de Warw. 555 Swete lord, forȝiue þu me.

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 4579 Swete sire,..wharfore was al þis fare formest bi-gunne?

1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear v. 45 O let me not be mad sweet heauen.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 (1623) ii. v. 137 Nay take me with thee, good sweet Exeter.

1617 R. Fenton Treat. Church Rome 145 Sweet Jesus, had it not beene for these and these, we had neuer beene enabled to preach thy Gospell.

1693 Humours & Conversat. Town 31 Ah sweet Mr. Jovial, you mistake me quite.

1782 W. Cowper Parrot iii ‘Sweet Poll!’ his doting mistress cries, ‘Sweet Poll!’ the mimic bird replies.

1807 ‘P. Plymley’ Two Lett. on Catholics i. 6 In the first place, my sweet Abraham, the Pope is not yet landed.

1852 F. W. Faber Jesus & Mary (ed. 2) 184 Sweet Saviour! bless us ere we go.

1871 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues I. 23 Be of good cheer, sweet sir, and give your opinion.

c. absol. in affectionate address: Beloved, dear one; also in superlative. (Cf. sweet n. 4.)

ΚΠ

c1300 K. Horn (Harl.) 465 Help me þat ych were Ydobbed to be knyhte, Suete, bi al þi myhte.

a1400 Sir Beues (A.) 279 ‘Haue’, a seide, ‘ber þis sonde Me leue swet!’

a1400–50 Wars Alex. 2826 Here send I þe, my swete, salutis & ioy.

c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Franklin's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 270 Haue mercy swete or ye wol do me deye.

1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 373 Gentle sweete, Your wits makes wise thinges foolish.

1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream iii. ii. 248 Sweete, doe not scorne her so.

a1658 R. Lovelace Lucasta: Posthume Poems (1659) 3 Tell me not (Sweet) I am unkinde.

1814 P. B. Shelley To M. W. Godwin v We are not happy, sweet!

1819 P. B. Shelley Rosalind & Helen 7 Thou lead, my sweet, And I will follow.

1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay x. 157 I would give my life to buy peace for you, sweetest.

d. Dear to the person himself; usually sarcastically, ‘pet’, ‘precious’: chiefly qualifying self or will. at one's own sweet will: just as one likes. Also in phrases to bet one's sweet life, to take one's own sweet time, to go one's own sweet way, and variants.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > [adjective] > relating to self > belonging to oneself, itself, etc. > dear to the person himself

sweet1659

the mind > will > wish or inclination > [adverb]

to one's willOE

by one's willOE

self-willesOE

after a person's willOE

a-willc1275

at willc1300

at one's (own) liberty1426

ad placituma1556

at pleasure1579

ad libitum1606

arbitrarilya1626

arbitrariously1653

discretionally1655

ad arbitrium1663

voluntarily1676

discretionarily1681

antecedently1682

discretionary?1707

ad lib1791

at one's own sweet will1802

at choice1817

at no allowance1858

1659 J. Rushworth Hist. Coll. 49 Let us not so far wrong the Jesuites, as to rob them of their sweet Positions and practice in that very point.

1746 P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Satires ii. v. 61 Bid him go home, of his sweet self take care.

a1774 A. Tucker Light of Nature (1834) II. 401 Nor yet need he be too secure against all damage to his own sweet person.

1802 W. Wordsworth Composed upon Westm. Bridge in Misc. Sonn. 12 The river glideth at his own sweet will.

1846 Ld. Tennyson Lit. Squabbles iii The petty fools of rhyme..Who..strain to make an inch of room For their sweet selves.

1862 J. G. Whittier Amy Wentworth 151 Love has never known a law Beyond its own sweet will.

1873 J. A. Symonds Stud. Greek Poets xi. 344 The monk Planudes..remodelled the Greek Anthology of Cephalas at his own sweet will.

1889 R. Kipling From Sea to Sea II. xxxii. 110 The younger ones [sc. Mormons]..will mix with the Gentile..and you bet your sweet life there's a holy influence working toward conversion in the kiss of an average Gentile.

1942 L. V. Berrey & M. Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang §54/3 Not hurry..take one's (own) sweet time.

1945 A. Kober Parm Me 85 You betcha sweet life I'll give you a buzz.

1946 Civil & Mil. Gaz. (Lahore) 19 July 6/4 The station authorities..took their own sweet time in handing the driver the token for him to proceed on his journey.

a1966 M. Allingham Cargo of Eagles (1968) iv. 52 I let him pass, making sure he'd turn off, but not on your sweet life. He was right with me all the way.

1970 ‘D. Halliday’ Dolly & Cookie Bird vii. 105 You go your own sweet way, or so the evidence tells me.

1975 D. Delman One Man's Murder ii. 49 So you're finally here... You took your own sweet time about it.

1976 H. MacInnes Agent in Place xi. 120 Katie has complicated everything in her own sweet way.

1978 ‘G. Vaughan’ Belgrade Drop v. 33 If one single person's seen you get on this lorry..you can bet your sweet life they'll turn it inside out.

9. Having pleasant disposition and manners; amiable, kindly; gracious, benignant.

a. Of persons, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > [adjective] > agreeable in manner

sweetc825

soota1250

coutha1375

pleasantc1387

gallant?a1513

plausible1577

plausive1595

placentiousa1661

winsome1677

genial1746

clever1758

nice1830

decent1902

c825 Vesp. Ps. xxiv. 8 Dulcis et rectus Dominus, swoete & reht dryten.

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 1258 Cullfre iss milde. & meoc. & swet.

c1275 Moral Ode 381 in Old Eng. Misc. 71 God is so swete & so muchel in his godnesse.

1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 4088 Ou iesu þat þulke day worþ me suete & god.

1382 J. Wyclif Psalms xcix. [c.] 5 Preise ȝee his name, for swete is the Lord.

1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 390 Quhen he wes blyth he wes lufly And meyk and sweyt in cumpany.

?1553 Respublica (1952) i. i. 4 I doubte not a shewete Ladye I shall fynde hir.

c1610–15 tr. Gregory of Nazianzus Life St. Nonna in C. Horstmann Lives Women Saints (1886) 176 She was a verie courteous and sweete woman.

1695 J. Edwards Disc. conc. Old & New-Test. III. xi. 350 Very Good-natur'd, Sweet, and Benign Persons.

1799 W. Wordsworth Lucy Gray ii The sweetest thing that ever grew Beside a human door!

1859 Ld. Tennyson Enid in Idylls of King 21 Seeing her [sc. Enid] so sweet and serviceable.

1905 E. Glyn Vicissitudes Evangeline 157 At luncheon she was sweet to me at once.

ironical.1608 R. Armin Nest of Ninnies sig. D2 His report..making no bones of the sweet youth gaue his doings thus.1644 W. Prynne & C. Walker True Relation Prosecution N. Fiennes 26 (note) Was not this a sweet Governour, that professeth he had no more charge of his chiefest Fort, then of any house in the Towne?

b. Of personal actions or attributes.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > [adjective]

metheOE

hendc1225

debonairc1230

hendya1250

courteousc1275

hendlyc1275

bonairc1300

quaintc1300

sweetc1330

graciousa1375

meetha1400

debonary1402

debonariousc1485

humanec1500

civil1565

genty1660

discreet1739

polite1751

politeful1832

the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > [adjective]

mildeOE

blitheOE

goodOE

well-willingOE

beina1200

goodfulc1275

blithefula1300

faira1300

benignc1320

gainc1330

sweetc1330

kinda1333

propicec1350

well-willeda1382

well-disposeda1393

well-hearteda1393

well-willinga1393

friendsomea1400

well-willya1400

charitablec1405

well-willed1417

good-heartedc1425

kindlyc1425

honeyed1435

propitious1440

affectuousc1441

willya1449

homelyc1450

benevolous1470

benigned1470

benevolent1482

favourousc1485

well-meaned1488

well-meaning1498

humanec1500

favourablec1503

affectionatea1516

well-mindedc1522

beneficial1526

propiciant1531

benignate1533

well-intendeda1535

beneficious1535

kind-hearted1535

well-given1535

affectioned1539

well-wishing1548

figgy?1549

good-meaning1549

affectedc1553

affectionated1561

well-natured1561

well-affected?1563

officious1565

well-inclined1569

good-natured1582

partial1587

graceful?1593

well-intentioned1598

beneficent1616

candid1633

kindlike1637

benefic1641

kindly-hearted1762

well-meant1765

benignanta1782

sweet-hearted1850

c1330 Speculum Guy 998 Þo seide anon þe profete To þe widewe wordes swete.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 20086 He þat nam of hir his flexs, Als his suet will al wess.

c1400 Laud Troy Bk. 18657 God..graunte vs of his swete grace Ther-In to haue a swete place!

1473 in C. Rogers Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1879) I. 177 The ourman quhilk the Abbot assignis for kepyn of gud and suet nichtburhed.

1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue ii. i. sig. Fiii^v To see his sweete looks, and here her swete wurds.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) ii. ii. 114 I, I. Antipholus, looke strange and frowne, Some other Mistresse hath thy sweet aspects.

1647 R. Herrick Almes in Noble Numbers 22 Give, if thou canst, an Almes; if not, afford, Instead of that, a sweet and gentle word.

a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Westmorl. 140 One of a sweet nature, comely presence, courteous carriage.

1705 G. Stanhope Paraphr. Epist. & Gospels II. 265 His Temper and Conversation is sweet and obliging.

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. viii. 321 His person was pleasing, his temper singularly sweet.

1886 ‘Ouida’ House Party (1887) v. 92 How are your children? Do they still care for me? That is very sweet of them.

†c. Gentle, easy. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > lack of strictness > [adjective] > lenient

mildeOE

eði modesa1325

easyc1325

sweet1607

lenitive1620

lenient1787

go-easy1901

1607 G. Markham Cavelarice ii. 50 A smoothe Cannon..is of all byts the sweetest.

1607 G. Markham Cavelarice iv. 38 You shal..carrie an euen and sweet hand vpon him.

1622 T. Scott Belgicke Pismire 37 To know the natures of all people, and to be able to carry a sweet hand, wherewith to manage them easily.

1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. ix. 196 That he was made a Cardinall of purpose to be sent then into England for the sweet managing of those Affairs.

d. to keep (someone) sweet: to keep (someone) well-disposed towards oneself, esp. by complaisance or bribery.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > illegal payment or exaction > [verb (transitive)] > bribe

meedOE

underorna1325

corrump1387

forbuy1393

hirec1400

wage1461

fee1487

under-arearc1503

bribe1528

grease1528

money1528

corrupt1548

budc1565

to feed with money1567

to put out a person's eyes with (a gift, bribe, etc.)1580

sweeten1594

to grease the fist or (one) in the fist1598

over-bribe1619

to buy off1629

palter1641

to take off1646

buy1652

overmoneya1661

bub1684

to speak to ——1687

to tickle in the palm1694

daub1699

overbuy1710

touch1752

palm1767

to get at ——1780

fix1790

subsidize1793

sop1837

to buy over1848

backsheesh1850

nobble1856

square1859

hippodrome1866

see1867

boodleize1883

boodle1886

to get to ——1901

reach1906

straighten1923

lubricate1928

to keep (someone) sweet1939

sling1939

to pay off1942

bung1950

1939 C. Day Lewis Child of Misfortune ii. vi. 241 It was necessary to keep the wealthier parishioners sweet.

1944 ‘N. Shute’ Pastoral viii. 202 Mine won't worry, but I'd like to keep them sweet.

1965 N. Gulbenkian Pantaraxia xi. 228 Mr. Sheets..had what he described as ‘a wonderful idea’ to keep the Russians sweet politically.

1972 G. Bromley In Absence of Body vi. 69 Joe Retford..helps to keep him sweet—wines him and dines him and all that.

1978 N. Freeling Night Lords iii. 17 The cops were capable of leaking the most dreadful nonsense if one didn't take pains to keep them sweet.

10. to be sweet on (upon):

†a. To behave affectionately or gallantly towards, treat caressingly.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > affection > [verb (transitive)] > treat or behave affectionately

to make much (also little, nothing, too much, etc.) of (or on)c1395

to make of (also on)1601

much1640

endear1683

to be sweet on (upon)1694

to be all over (a person)1912

1694 L. Echard in tr. Plautus Comedies Pref. sig. a 7 This Stripling began to be sweet upon her, and waggish upon me too.

1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew To be Sweet upon, to coakse, wheedle, entice or allure.

1716 J. Addison Freeholder No. 44. ⁋5 What still gave him greater offence, was a drunken bishop, who reeled from one side of the court to the other, and was very sweet upon an Indian queen.

1754 Connoisseur No. 7. ⁋11 I would recommend it to all married people, but especially to the ladies, not to be so sweet upon their dears before company.

b. To have a particular fondness or affection for (one of the opposite sex); to be enamoured of or smitten with. Also transferred.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > amorous love > be in love or infatuated with [verb (transitive)]

loveOE

paramoura1500

to love with1597

to be sweet on (upon)1740

to be cracked about or on1874

to be stuck on1878

mash1881

to be shook on1888

to go dingy on1904

to fall for ——1906

lurve1908

to have or get a crush on1913

to be soppy on1918

to have a pash for (or on)1922

to have a case on1928

to be queer for1941

1740 tr. C. de F. de Mouhy Fortunate Country Maid I. 40 [He] is very sweet upon her; but I shall watch him so narrowly, that he'll not find an Opportunity of speaking to her, but when I am by.

1843 C. Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit (1844) xi. 143 I think he is sweet upon your daughter.

1853 ‘C. Bede’ Adventures Mr. Verdant Green xii. 113 The bar was presided over by a young lady, ‘on whom’ he said ‘he was desperately sweet.’

1862 G. J. Whyte-Melville Inside Bar (ed. 12) iii. 256 If he should see any gentleman rather sweet upon the nag.

11. Australian slang. Fine, in order, ready.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > quality of being satisfactory > [adjective]

wellOE

sufferablea1340

worthy1340

sufficient1489

paregala1500

competent1535

something like?1556

right1567

sweet1577

fairish1611

all right1652

fair1656

comfortable1658

decent1711

respectable1750

unrepulsive1787

decentisha1814

fair-to-middling1822

fine1828

christena1838

OK1839

tidy1844

not (or none) so dusty?1856

sweet1898

oke1928

okey-doke1934

okey-dokey1936

tickety-boo1939

cool1951

aight1993

1898 Bulletin (Sydney) 17 Dec. (Red Page) Sweet, roujig and not too stinkin' are good.

1939 K. Tennant Foveaux 312 ‘I brassed a mug yesterday,’ he told her, ‘and everything's sweet again.’ He flashed a roll of notes.

1949 L. Glassop Lucky Palmer 242 ‘Everything jake?’ he asked. ‘She's sweet,’ said Max.

1962 S. Gore Down Golden Mile 120 Might as well be in it. We'll be sweet for getting back.

1975 X. Herbert Poor Fellow my Country 353 Mossie came in..to say cheerfully, ‘She's sweet.’

B. adv. Sweetly; so as to be sweet (literal or figurative).

1. = sweetly adv. 1 (Chiefly with verb smell.)

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sweetness > [adverb]

sweeta1325

sweetly1530

the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > fragrance > [adverb]

sootc1000

spice-likea1325

sweeta1325

softa1400

fragrantly?1521

sweetlya1547

odoriferously1601

nectarel1648

aromatically1657

ambrosially1826

a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2443 [I]osep dede hise lich..riche-like smeren, And spice-like swete smaken.

c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. vii. 206 Þei schule soupe þe swettore whon þei han hit deseruet.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 1014 Floures þat ful swete smelles.

1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet ii. i. 86 Whats in a name? That which we call a Rose, By any other name would smell as sweet .

c1640 J. Shirley Contention Ajax & Ulisses (1659) 128 Onely the actions of the just Smell sweet, and blossom in their dust.

1668 J. Flavell Saint Indeed 28 When the salt of heavenly mindedness is again cast into the Spring, the streams will run clearer and sweeter.

1746 P. Francis tr. Horace in P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Epistles i. xix. 6 Soon the tuneful Nine At Morning breath'd, and not too sweet, of Wine.

2. = sweetly adv. 2.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > [adverb] > melodious or harmonious

sweetly1340

melodiouslya1449

sweet1568

soot1579

tunably1586

harmonically1589

consort1590

harmoniously1611

tunefully1656

symphoniously1757

nightingaly1870

1568 Christis Kirk on Grene in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1928) II. 263 He playit so schill and sang so sweit.

1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet ii. i. 210 How siluer sweet sound louers tongues in night.

a1708 T. Ward England's Reformation (1710) i. 96 She Psalms wou'd often sing in Meeter Like Hopkins, but a great deal Sweeter.

1851 Ld. Tennyson Edwin Morris 113 Then low and sweet I whistled thrice.

1891 F. W. Farrar Darkness & Dawn I. xxii. 207 ‘I think,' said Nero, savagely, ‘that swans sing sweetest before they die.’

a. = sweetly adv. 4.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [adverb]

fairlyOE

comelyOE

hendly?c1225

goodlyc1275

seemlya1325

sweet1338

quaintly1340

properlyc1390

well?a1400

comelilyc1400

seemlilyc1400

jollilyc1426

formally1548

handsomely1560

sightly1592

handsome1600

winsomely17..

nicely1714

in one's best (also worst) looks1816

presentably1848

the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > aesthetic quality or good taste > [adverb] > pleasing to the aesthetic sense

sweet1338

prettilyc1450

sweetly1576

pretty1617

1338 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 275 Doun Sir Richard went, & spak to þam lufly, Many of þam he knewe, so fair spak & so suete.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 15186 Þe lauerd..ansuard þam ful suete.

c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Miller's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 119 He kiste hir sweete.

a1529 J. Skelton Magnyfycence (?1530) sig. Fi So I wolde clepe her so I wolde kys her swete.

1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) I. 517 Beseikand thame richt sweit to cum him to.

1599 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet ii. ii. 32 Goodmorrow father. Fri. Benedicitie. What early tongue so sweete saluteth me?

b. = sweetly adv. 4d.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > easiness > [adverb] > without hindrance or encumberment

freelyeOE

wellOE

freec1250

glidderly13..

without (also but) lettingc1330

oliver current1466

smootha1500

pronewise1585

currently1586

glib1594

glibly1607

clearly1612

swimminglya1640

smoothly1668

uninterrupted1677

unobstructedly1788

smack-smooth1802

sweetly1825

sweet1846

unimpededly1846

hitchlessly1910

the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > [adverb] > and pleasing

comelyOE

winlyc1000

comelilyc1400

trimly?a1513

trima1547

sweetly1594

cleverly1697

nicely1714

tidy1824

sweet1846

wally1847

society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > types of machine generally > [adverb] > working smoothly or easily

sweetly1825

sweet1846

1846 C. Holtzapffel Turning & Mech. Manip. II. 689 The generality of other saw-files are single or float-cut, that kind of file tooth being considered to ‘cut sweeter’.

1862 J. Pycroft Cricket Tutor 26 There is one way..to make the ball fly away like a shot, going so clean off the bat that you scarcely feel it; and this is the test of clean hitting—of the ball going off ‘sweet’.

4. = sweetly adv. 3.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > pleasure > quality of being pleasant or pleasurable > [adverb]

sweetlyc900

queemlyOE

lustly971

winlyc1000

sootlya1125

to (a person's) queemc1175

lustilya1225

avenantlya1375

pleasinglya1398

queema1400

beinc1400

farrandlyc1400

pleasantlyc1400

pleasantlya1425

queemfullyc1425

thankfullyc1480

greablyc1500

dulcely1508

dulcea1525

pleasant1553

agreeably?1567

pleasurably1580

sugarly1587

flattering1597

sweet1597

attractively1640

well-pleasingly1645

welcomely1646

flatteringly1661

relishingly1677

satisfyingly1743

sweetsome1799

smilingly1806

dulcetly1810

gratifyingly1822

honeyedly1832

enjoyably1877

suavely1883

congenially1884

a fair treat1884

the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > pleasantness of sound > [adverb]

sweetly1340

sweet1597

euphoniously1836

euphonically1884

1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet ii. i. 232 Sleepe dwell vpon thine eyes, peace on thy breast. I would that I were sleep and peace of sweet to rest.

1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice v. i. 54 How sweet the moone-light sleepes vpon this banke.

1757 T. Gray Ode II iii. ii, in Odes 19 Her lyon-port, her awe-commanding face, Attemper'd sweet to virgin-grace.

1813 P. B. Shelley Queen Mab vi. 76 The stars, Which on thy cradle beamed so brightly sweet.

Compounds

Combinations and special collocations.

C1. of the adjective.

a. With nouns: See also sweetmeat n., sweet singer n., sweet-water n.

sweetback n. U.S. slang a woman's lover, a ladies' man; a pimp; also sweetback man (cf. sweet man n. below).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > a lover > [noun] > male lover

servantc1405

specialc1425

servitorc1450

love-lad1586

young man1589

inamorato1592

swainc1592

gentleman friend1667

enamorado1677

spark1707

beau?1720

Johnny1726

man friend1736

feller1842

novio1843

soupirant1849

fella1874

man1874

fellow1878

square-pusher1890

stud1895

papa1896

lover mana1905

boyfriend1906

daddy1912

lover-boy1925

sheikh1925

sweetback1929

sweet man1942

older man1951

boyf1990

society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > prostitution > [noun] > pimping or procuring > procurer of either sex > pimp

putourc1390

panderc1450

mitchera1500

apple-squire?1536

squire of dames or ladies1590

apron-squire1593

bed-broker1594

pimp1600

pippin squire1600

petticoat-monger1605

smockster1608

underputter1608

broker-between1609

squire of the placket1611

squire1612

fleshmongera1616

cock bawd1632

whiskin1632

pimp-whiskin1638

bully1675

foot pimp1690

mutton-broker1694

pimp whisk1707

flash-man1789

panderer1826

bludger1856

whoremaster1864

mack1894

lover1904

jelly bean1905

procureur1910

P.I.1928

sweetback1929

sweet man1942

nookie-bookie1943

papasan1970

1929 in P. Oliver Screening Blues (1968) vi. 206 Had a man, good old sweetback.

1935 A. J. Pollock Underworld Speaks 117/2 Sweet back, a pimp.

1950 R. P. Blesh & H. Janis They all played Ragtime ii. 39 The dapper, foppish ‘macks’ or ‘sweet-back men’..got their gambling stakes from the girls.

1974 Black World Sept. 25/2 Long Black Song tells us, here in the 1970's, that the days of darky entertainers, superflies, sweetbacks, and Melindas, if not over, are numbered.

† sweet-bag n. Obsolete a small bag or sachet filled with a scented or aromatic substance, used for perfuming the air, clothes, etc.; occasionally transferred of the honey-bag of a bee.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > fragrance > perfume making > [noun] > container

musk ball1423

puff1436

casting-glass1544

perfuming pan1558

perfumer1591

pouncet-box1598

perfumier1601

sweet-bag1615

casting-bottle1638

perfuming pota1650

musk bag1687

smelling-bottle1722

scent-bottle1765

scent box1777

vinaigrette1811

scent jar1813

scent bag1816

scent ball1832

pouncet1843

scent casket1845

pot-pourri jar1848

cassolette1851

scent sachet1856

scent spray1858

lavender drawer1863

lavender bag1865

odorator1890

pot-pourri bowl1904

lavender sachet1938

the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Hymenoptera > [noun] > suborder Apocrita, Petiolata, or Heterophaga > group Aculeata (stinging) > superfamily Apoidea (bees) > honey-bag

honey bag1600

bottle1609

sweet-bag1615

1615 in W. Foster Lett. received by E. India Co. (1899) III. 16 Some pillow sweetbag or other like thing of the rockwork used lately in England.

1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §385 When Bodies are Moved or Stirred, though not Broken, they Smell more; As a Sweet-Bagge waved.

1648 R. Herrick Hesperides sig. C8 About the sweet bag of a Bee, Two Cupids fell at odds [printed ddos].

1707 C. Cibber Double Gallant (ed. 2) i. 5 Her Sweetbags instead of..Musk and Amber, breath nothing but..Hartshorn, Rue, and Assafœtida.

1821 W. Scott Kenilworth II. viii. 203 Hast thou no perfumes and sweet bags, or any handsome casting bottles of the newest mode?

† sweet-ball n. Obsolete a ball of scented or aromatic substance.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > fragrance > [noun] > fragrant substance or perfume

pimentc1300

odoramentc1384

savouringc1384

odoura1425

aromatica1513

smella1533

fume1541

perfume1542

sweet-water?1543

scent1596

pomander1600

sweets1603

bisse1608

sweet-ball1617

plash1649

suffition1656

essence1661

odoratea1682

otto1822

aroma1830

nosegay1855

foo-foo1880

1617 Janua Linguarum 76 The Queene with her courtiers that weare feathers, smell of sweete-balls.

1637 T. Heywood Pleasant Dial. ii, in Wks. (1874) VI. 130 This sweet-Ball, Take it to cheare your heart.

1650 tr. J. A. Comenius Janua Linguarum Reserata §587 Sweet-powders, sweet balls, and besprinklings out of sweet-glass bottles.

sweet band n. originally and chiefly U.S. a band which plays sweet music.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > music > musician > instrumentalist > company of instrumentalists > [noun] > band > type of

waits1298

consort1587

wait player1610

wind music1650

the fiddles1676

military band1775

German band1819

street band1826

brass band1834

promenade band1836

horn-band1849

pipe band1867

wind-band1876

Hungarian band1882

jazz band1916

jazz orchestra1916

big band1919

road band1922

Schrammel quartet1924

showband1926

spasm band1926

dance-band1927

marching band1930

name band1932

ork1933

silver band1933

sweet band1935

Schrammel orchestra1938

pop band1942

jug band1946

steel band1949

rehearsal band1957

skiffle band1957

ghost band1962

support band1969

support group1969

scratch band1982

1935 Vanity Fair (N.Y.) Nov. 71/2 Hot musicians look down on sweet bands, which faithfully follow the composer's arrangements.

1938 Sat. Evening Post 7 May 23/1 Art Hickman and the first wave of big sweet bands [were] calling the country's dance tunes.

1974 Listener 24 Oct. 532/1 Would Albert McCarthy..say that Glenn Miller's was the best dance/swing/‘sweet’ band?

sweet biscuit n. a biscuit flavoured with sugar.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > biscuit > [noun] > other biscuits

dorcake14..

cracknelc1440

hard breada1500

crackling1598

Naples biscuit1650

gingerbread man1686

chocolate biscuit1702

biscotin1723

sponge biscuit1736

maple biscuita1753

butter biscuit1758

nut1775

Oliver biscuit1786

funeral biscuit1790

rock biscuit?1790

ratafia1801

finger biscuit1812

Savoy drop1816

lady's finger1818

snap1819

Abernethy1830

pretzel1831

wine-biscuit1834

gingersnap1838

captain's biscuit1843

lebkuchen1847

simnel1854

sugar cookie1854

peppernut1862

McClellan pie1863

Savoy ring1866

Brown George1867

beaten biscuit1876

digestive1876

Osborne1876

Bath Oliver1878

marie1878

boer biscuit1882

charcoal biscuit1885

biscotti1886

fairing1888

snickerdoodle1889

pfeffernuss1891

zwieback1894

Nice1895

Garibaldi biscuit1896

Oswegoc1900

squashed fly1900

amaretto1905

boerebeskuit1905

Romary1905

petit beurre1906

Oswego biscuit1907

soetkoekie1910

Oreo1912

custard cream1916

Anzac1923

sweet biscuit1929

langue de chat1931

Bourbon biscuit1932

Afghan1934

flapjack1935

Florentine1936

chocolate chip cookie1938

choc chip cookie1940

Toll House cookie1940

tuile1943

pizzelle1949

black and white1967

Romany Cream1970

papri1978

1926–7 Army & Navy Stores Catal. 6/2 Assorted biscuits. A choice selection of Plain, Sweet, and Fancy kinds.]

1929 W. Faulkner Sartoris 168 Negroes lounged, skinning bananas or small florid cartons of sweet biscuits.

1941 Ration Craft 9 The present shortage of sweet biscuits is well known.

1977 Lancashire Life Feb. 19/1 Sweet biscuits were unknown until about sixty years ago. Before that the only biscuits made were ship's biscuits.

† sweet-blanch n. Obsolete a dish made with the flesh of chickens and almond milk.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > fowl dishes > [noun]

blancmange1377

bouce Janec1420

sweet-blanchc1430

dumpoke1698

temperade1699

biberot1706

howtowdie1728

alderman?1782

suprême de volaille1822

chicken fixings1837

paprikahendl1839

poule au pot1849

Marengo1861

paprikahuhn1870

Peking duck1874

poule au riz1882

Maryland chicken1888

chicken finger1900

arroz con pollo1901

moo goo gai pan1902

chicken à la King1905

coq au vin1915

chicken burger1933

supreme of chicken1939

cassoulet1940

chicken rice1950

piccata1963

chicken tender1969

turducken1982

Kiev1993

chimaek2012

c1430 Two Cookery-bks. 112 Sweteblanche.—Nym chikons or hennes, skald hem..& seth hem with good beofe.

sweet-bone n. (also sweet-bones) dialect ‘a griskin of pork’ (Miss Baker Northampt. Gloss. 1854).

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > pork > [noun] > cuts or parts

pig's footc1475

hog's foot1561

hog's cheek1573

bald-rib1598

spring1598

list1623

griskin1699

chine1712

pork griskin1725

rearing1736

pork chop?1752

hand1794

faggot1815

hog round1819

sweet-bone1826

butt1845

pig trotter1851

pork belly1863

Hodge1879

fore-end1906

fore-hock1923

1826 H. More in W. Roberts Mem. (1835) IV. 304 The spare-rib, sweet-bone, ears, and snout [of a pig].

1969 C. Drummond Odds on Death vii. 130 Sister has some Wiltshire sweetbones done under crisp suet crust.

sweet-cake n. a kind of cake made with a specially large proportion of sugar.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > cake > [noun] > a cake > other cakes

honey appleeOE

barley-cake1393

seed cakea1400

cake?a1425

pudding-cake?1553

manchet1562

biscuit cake1593

placent1598

poplin1600

jumbal1615

bread pudding1623

semel1643

wine-cakea1661

Shrewsbury cake1670

curd cake1675

fruitcake1687

clap-bread1691

simnel cake1699

orange-flower cake1718

banana cake1726

sweet-cake1726

torte1748

Naples cake1766

Bath cake1769

gofer1769

yeast-cake1795

nutcake1801

tipsy-cake1806

cruller1808

baba1813

lady's finger1818

coconut cake1824

mint cake1825

sices1825

cup-cake1828

batter-cake1830

buckwheat1830

Dundee seed cake1833

fat-cake1839

babka1846

wonder1848

popover1850

cream-cake1855

sly-cake1855

dripping-cake1857

lard-cake1858

puffet1860

quick cake1865

barnbrack1867

matrimony cake1871

brioche1873

Nelson cake1877

cocoa cake1883

sesame cake1883

marinade1888

mystery1889

oblietjie1890

stuffed monkey1892

Greek bread1893

Battenberg1903

Oswego cake1907

nusstorte1911

dump cake1912

Dobos Torte1915

lekach1918

buckle1935

Florentine1936

hash cake1967

space cake1984

1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. ii. iii. 65 I..sat down..to eat a piece of Sweet Cake for my Breakfast.

1825 T. Hook Sayings & Doings 2nd Ser. I. 198 The fruits, sugars, wines, creams, and sweet-cakes [after dinner].

a1881 M. Clarke in Mem. (1884) 143 He..got a big piece of sweet-cake, and put it in the pocket of his little jumper.

† sweet-cheese n. Obsolete (see quot. 1688).

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > dairy produce > [noun] > milk > curds

curd1378

slipc1425

wrench-milk1510

well curds1538

float-wheyc1550

ricoct1582

curdlea1591

bonny clabber1605

fleeting1611

clabber1634

yearned milk?1635

trouts1683

sweet-cheese1688

earning1744

slip curd1784

1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. 173/1 Sweet-Cheese, Fleeting strained through a fine Cloth and Sugared.

sweet dreams int. a farewell to someone going to bed.

ΚΠ

1908 Sears, Roebuck Catal. 198/1 Tenor Solos..Good Bye, Sweet Dreams, Good Bye.

1970 New Yorker 28 Feb. 70/2 Good night, sleep tight, sweet dreams.

1981 P. Niesewand Word of Gentleman xvii. 109 ‘I need some sleep.’.. ‘Sweet dreams, then.’

sweet Jesus int. used as an oath or exclamation (cf. Jesus n., int., and adj. Phrases 1c).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > malediction > oaths > [interjection] > religious oaths (referring to God) > referring to Jesus

for Christ's sake (or sakes)eOE

in (also a, o', on) Christ's nameeOE

by Christ's, or His, woundsc1350

Christ's foot!c1450

by Gis1528

Jesus Christ1602

Christ1748

Christ almighty1810

jabbers1821

for Chrissakes1845

Jeez1896

jeepers1929

sweet Jesus1932

Jeezum1959

1932 W. Faulkner Light in August viii. 182 ‘Come on out,’ the blonde woman said. ‘For sweet Jesus,’ Max said.

1955 F. O' Connor Wise Blood v. 95 Oh sweet Jesus, come on!

1973 ‘D. Jordan’ Nile Green xxxiii. 157 Her voice so still, so soft, and I believed her, sweet Jesus, I believed her.

sweet life n. = dolce vita n.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > sensuous pleasure > luxury or luxurious living > [noun]

softnessOE

voluptuositya1380

voluptuoustya1382

delicacya1393

deliciousnessa1500

volupteousness1526

niceness1540

nicety1542

wealiness1545

luxe1558

voluptibility1631

luxury1633

voluptuousness1652

volupté1712

decadence1882

gracious living1892

vie de luxe1920

good life1937

dolce vita1961

sweet life1962

1962 Sunday Express 18 Feb. 13/5 Klaus was tired of being respectable and hungered for ‘the sweet life’.

1974 M. Cecil Heroines in Love ix. 218 The sweet life was turning sour on heroines in the late 1960s.

sweet-lifer n. one who leads the sweet life.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > sensuous pleasure > luxury or luxurious living > [noun] > one who lives luxuriously

delicatea1382

high-liver1715

feather-bedder1952

sweet-lifer1967

1967 D. Skirrow I was following this Girl iii. 16 I've been tailing that toffee-nosed sweet-lifer.

† sweet-love n. Obsolete a term of affection for a beloved person.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > terms of endearment > [noun]

darlingc888

belamy?c1225

culver?c1225

dearc1230

sweetheartc1290

heartc1300

sweetc1330

honeya1375

dovec1386

jewelc1400

birdc1405

cinnamonc1405

honeycombc1405

lovec1405

wantonc1450

mulling?a1475

daisyc1485

crowdy-mowdy?a1513

honeysop?a1513

powsowdie?a1513

suckler?a1513

foolc1525

buttinga1529

whitinga1529

beautiful1534

turtle-dove1535

soula1538

heartikin1540

bully?1548

turtle1548

lamba1556

nyletc1557

sweet-lovea1560

coz1563

ding-ding1564

pugs1566

golpol1568

sparling1570

lover1573

pug1580

bulkin1582

mopsy1582

chuck1589

bonny1594

chick1594

sweetikin1596

ladybird1597

angel1598

muss1598

pinkany1599

sweetkin1599

duck1600

joy1600

sparrowc1600

sucket1605

nutting1606

chuckaby1607

tickling1607

bagpudding1608

heartling1608

chucking1609

dainty1611

flittermouse1612

honeysuckle1613

fubs1614

bawcocka1616

pretty1616

old thinga1625

bun1627

duckling1630

bulchin1633

bulch?c1640

sweetling1648

friscoa1652

ding-dongs1662

buntinga1668

cocky1680

dearie1681

chucky1683

lovey1684

machree1689

nykin1693

pinkaninny1696

nug1699

hinny1724

puss1753

pet1767

dovey1769

sweetie1778

lovey-dovey1781

lovely1791

ducky1819

toy1822

acushla1825

alanna1825

treat1825

amigo1830

honey child1832

macushla1834

cabbage1840

honey-bunch1874

angel pie1878

m'dear1887

bach1889

honey baby1895

prawn1895

hon1896

so-and-so1897

cariad1899

pumpkin1900

honey-bun1902

pussums1912

snookums1919

treasure1920

wogger1922

amico1929

sugar1930

baby cake1949

angel cake1951

lamb-chop1962

petal1974

bae2006

a1560 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Æneid viii. Y iv O husbande sweetloue most disierd.

sweet mama n. U.S. slang (see quots.).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > a lover > [noun] > female lover > black female lover

sweet mama1950

1950 A. Lomax Mister Jelly Roll 19 Now these boys used to all have a sweet mama..they was what I would call, maybe a fifth-class whore.

1970 C. Major Dict. Afro-Amer. Slang 111 Sweet mama, black female lover.

sweet man n. U.S. slang = sweetback n. above.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > a lover > [noun] > male lover

servantc1405

specialc1425

servitorc1450

love-lad1586

young man1589

inamorato1592

swainc1592

gentleman friend1667

enamorado1677

spark1707

beau?1720

Johnny1726

man friend1736

feller1842

novio1843

soupirant1849

fella1874

man1874

fellow1878

square-pusher1890

stud1895

papa1896

lover mana1905

boyfriend1906

daddy1912

lover-boy1925

sheikh1925

sweetback1929

sweet man1942

older man1951

boyf1990

society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > prostitution > [noun] > pimping or procuring > procurer of either sex > pimp

putourc1390

panderc1450

mitchera1500

apple-squire?1536

squire of dames or ladies1590

apron-squire1593

bed-broker1594

pimp1600

pippin squire1600

petticoat-monger1605

smockster1608

underputter1608

broker-between1609

squire of the placket1611

squire1612

fleshmongera1616

cock bawd1632

whiskin1632

pimp-whiskin1638

bully1675

foot pimp1690

mutton-broker1694

pimp whisk1707

flash-man1789

panderer1826

bludger1856

whoremaster1864

mack1894

lover1904

jelly bean1905

procureur1910

P.I.1928

sweetback1929

sweet man1942

nookie-bookie1943

papasan1970

1942 L. V. Berrey & M. Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang §443/5 Beau,..sweet man.

1942 L. V. Berrey & M. Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang §508/3 Pimp..sweetman.

1952 S. Selvon Brighter Sun ii. 21 Look how Ah take up meself and leave sweetman life in town.

1959 V. S. Naipaul Miguel St. xi. 118 Eddoes was a real ‘saga-boy’. This didn't mean that he wrote epic poetry. It meant that he was a ‘sweet-man’, a man of leisure, well-dressed, and keen on women.

1972 J. Maryland in T. Kochman Rappin' & Stylin' Out 211 Damn, Rev., that's some real cruel shit, suggesting a sweet man [pimp] be iced.

sweet-mart n. a name for the pine-marten, as distinguished from the foulmart, foumart n., or polecat (see mart n.⁵).

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Mustelidae (weasel, marten, otter, or badger) > [noun] > genus Martes (marten) > martes martes (pine marten)

pine marten1772

sweet-mart1788

baum marten1879

1788 W. Marshall Provincialisms E. Yorks. in Rural Econ. Yorks. II. 358 Sweet-mart, the marten.

1847 J. O. Halliwell Dict. Archaic & Provinc. Words II Sweet-mart, the badger. Yorksh.

1905 Athenæum 26 Aug. 262/1 Cumberland had its almost distinctive sports, such as foulmart hunting and sweetmart hunting.

sweet milk n. fresh milk having its natural sweet flavour, as distinct from skimmed milk, or from ‘sour milk’, i.e. buttermilk; also attributive, as sweet-milk cheese, cheese made from unskimmed milk.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > dairy produce > [noun] > milk > buttermilk

sweet milka1475

buttermilka1500

whey of butter1530

kirn-milkc1550

lap1567

churn-milk1598

whig1688

souter's brandy1790

a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sloane) (1862) 17 Take swete mylke and put in panne.

1786 R. Burns Holy Fair vii, in Poems 44 Wi sweet-milk cheese, in monie a whang.

1820 J. Hogg Welldean Hall in Tales & Sketches (1836) II. 224 That whining sweet-milk boy.

1844 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm II. 713 Hard-boiled picks of porridge, with a little sweet-milk in the dish.

1877 Encycl. Brit. VII. 649/2 Edam..gives its name to a well-known description of ‘sweetmilk’ cheese.

1895 Oracle Encycl. I. 556/1 Butter-Milk, the liquid which remains after the churning of cream or sweet-milk for the preparation of butter.

sweetmouth v. slang (transitive) to flatter.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > flatter [verb (transitive)]

flatter?c1225

flackera1250

slickc1250

blandishc1305

blandc1315

glozec1330

beflatter1340

curryc1394

elkena1400

glaverc1400

anointa1425

glotherc1480

losenge1480

painta1513

to hold in halsc1560

soothe1580

smooth1584

smooth1591

soothe1601

pepper1654

palp1657

smoothify1694

butter1700

asperse1702

palaver1713

blarney1834

sawder1834

soft-soap1835

to cock up1838

soft-solder1838

soother1842

behoney1845

soap1853

beslaver1861

beslobber1868

smarm1902

sugar1923

sweetmouth1948

smooth-talk1950

1948 Publ. Amer. Dial. Soc. ix. 81 Employment [by the Gullahs] of groups of words for..verbs..or other parts of speech (such as..to sweet mouth ‘to flatter’).

1950 Language 26 330 Not recorded in the Atlas but commonly considered to be of Negro origin are such metaphors as sweet-mouth ‘to flatter’ and bad~mouth ‘to curse’.

1973 J. Jones Touch of Danger xli. 238 He went on sweetmouthing me, with his slippery mean eyes.

sweet music n. light instrumental music of a popular or conventional character (cf. A. 4b); also figurative, esp. in allusion to love-making.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > action of caressing > [noun] > sexual caressing > in allusion to love-making

sweet music1967

society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > [noun] > other general types

country music1585

water musicc1660

concert music1776

eye music1812

ballet music1813

night music1832

absolute music1856

Tafelmusik1880

Ars Antiqua1886

Ars Nova1886

early music1886

tone poetry1890

mood music1922

Gebrauchsmusik1930

shake music1935

modernistic1938

industrial1942

spasm music1943

musica reservata1944

protest music1949

night music1950

palm court music1958

title music1960

bottleneck guitar1961

rinky-tink1962

Schrammel-musik1967

sweet music1967

chutney1968

roots music1969

electronica1980

multiphonics1983

chutney soca1987

chiptune1992

1967 Guardian 28 Sept. 4/5 If pop music should be a fad that passes he sees Radio One as becoming a ‘sweet music’ station.

1970 Guardian 10 Mar. 1/3 A..choice between..pop music on Radio 1 and ‘sweet’ music on Radio 2.

1971 R. Gadney Somewhere in England xxi. 180 A small black girl..offered him ‘some sweet music’.

1977 J. Wainwright Day of Peppercorn Kill 99 [They] should be making sweet music, every night of the week.

1981 H. R. F. Keating Go West, Inspector Ghote iii. 29 Rock music, country music, sweet music, pop music—all or any of these..at the touch of a button.

sweet nothings n. colloquial sentimental trivia, endearments.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > amorous love > [noun] > sentimental trivia or endearments

love worda1250

sweet nothings1900

sweet talk1945

1900 Fazl-i-Husain Diary 20 May in A. Husain Fazl-i-Husain (1946) ii. 35 The sweet nothings so often talked of in the romantic descriptions.

1934 C. Lambert Music Ho! iii. 212 The blues have a certain austerity that places them far above the sweet nothings of George Gershwin.

1973 M. Amis Rachel Papers 119 Half the guests, including DeForest (after a minute of sweet-nuthins with Rachel), had wisely got the hell out as soon as dinner was over.

sweet oil n. any oil of pleasant or mild taste, spec. olive oil; rape oil.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > fat or oil > [noun] > olive oil

elec950

oil1221

oil d'olive1381

oil of olives1381

oil olivec1425

Seville oil1436

salad oil1559

olive oil1566

sweet oil1581

virgin's oil1611

Minorca oil1612

virgin oil1699

Lucca oil1725

Gallipoli oil1839

virgin salad oil1839

Florence-oil1858

extra-virgin1981

EVOO1993

society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > extracted or refined oil > [noun] > pleasant or sweet oil

sweet oil1581

society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > extracted or refined oil > [noun] > olive oil

oil1221

oil d'olive1381

oil of olives1381

oil olivec1425

olive oil1566

sweet oil1581

1581 R. Mulcaster Positions xxxiv. 121 Then were they oynted with sweete oyle.

a1585 in Eng. Hist. Rev. (1914) XXIX. 519 All our wolle oyles and swete oyles.

1757 Bromfeild Eng. Nightshades 74 The red oil, produced by distillation from bitter almonds, after the sweet oil had been expressed.

1776 Pigou in Gentleman's Mag. (1792) Jan. 14/2 We found relief by rubbing the parts with sweet oil.

1857 W. A. Miller Elements Chem. III. iii. 158 If this liquid [sc. sulphethylic acid] be boiled, sweet oil of wine mingled with sulphurous acid passes over.

1867 C. L. Bloxam Chemistry 580 Salad oil, or sweet oil.., is obtained by crushing olives.

1886 Encycl. Brit. XX. 273/2 Rape oil,..known also as ‘sweet oil’, is obtained from seeds of cultivated varieties of the cruciferous genus Brassica.

sweet papa n. U.S. slang (see quot. 1970).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > love affair > [noun] > man who lavishes gifts on young woman

sweet papac1923

sugar daddy1926

c1923 in W. C. Handy's Coll. Blues (?1925) 28 Ashes in my sweet pa-pa's bed So that he can't slip out.

1941 W. C. Handy Father of Blues x. 141 The sweet papa who happened to be shining around the absentee prisoner's gal at the moment.

1970 C. Major Dict. Afro-Amer. Slang 111 Sweet papa, a sugar-daddy and sweet man.

† sweet-powder n. Obsolete perfumed powder used as a cosmetic.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the skin or complexion > [noun] > preparations for the skin or complexion > powders > scented

damask powder?a1547

sweet-powder1573

diapasm1616

pulvilio1675

pulvila1685

foo-foo1880

talcum powder1901

dusting-powder1907

talcum1908

talc1938

1573–4 in A. Feuillerat Documents Office of Revels Queen Elizabeth (1908) 208 Sweete powder made of Musk & Amber.

1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 52. ⁋1 The Expence of Sweet Powder and Jessamine are considerably abated.

1710 C. Shadwell Fair Quaker of Deal ii. 25 He's for turning the Gun powder into Sweet-Powder, and the Iron Balls into Wash-Balls.

sweet precipitate n. mercurous chloride or calomel, Hg₂Cl₂.

ΚΠ

1890 Cent. Dict. at Precipitate Sweet precipitate, mercurous chlorid or calomel.

sweet-spittle n. Pathology an increased secretion of saliva having a sweetish taste.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > disordered secretion > [noun] > disordered salivation

ptyalism1676

sweet-spittle1817

1817 J. M. Good Physiol. Syst. Nosol. 13 Apocenosis, ptyalismus, mellitus..Sweet-spittle.

sweet spot n. the point on a bat, club, racket, etc., at which it makes most effective contact with the ball; cf. meat n. 12.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > [noun] > instrument for hitting ball > parts of

face1816

drive1867

meat1909

sweet spot1976

1976 National Observer (U.S.) 1 May 10/4 The sweet spot—the precise point of contact on the racket face where all the force of a swing goes into the ball without jarring the arm—was considerably farther from the center than anyone had ever suspected.

1976 Golf International 13 May 21/1 Because we use investment casting, the head weight is distributed over a wider area, increasing the sweet spot. We call this Perimeter Weighting.

1980 Esquire Mar. 78 Tennis players, of course, are accustomed to a long racquet, but they're also accustomed to a nice fluffy projectile and the luxury of a forgiving ‘sweet spot’.

sweet-stuff n. sweetmeats, sweets, confectionery; also attributive and in other combinations; now frequently in plural; †also euphemistic, gin (obsolete).

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > confections or sweetmeats > [noun]

confection1393

sweetmeat?a1500

junkery1509

conceit1525

banqueta1533

junketry1599

sweet1660

spice1674

knick-knack1682

confectionery1769

confiture1802

candy?1809

knick-knackery1813

mithai1824

dulce1834

sweet-stuff1835

bouchées1846

ket1979

the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > confections or sweetmeats > sweets > [noun]

sweetmeat?a1500

candy1587

spice1674

lollipop1784

sweet-stuff1835

goody1853

sucks1858

pogey bait1918

the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > distilled drink > gin > [noun]

bottled lightning1713

gin1713

royal bob1722

diddle1725

strike-fire1725

tittery1725

max1728

maxim1739

strip-me-naked1751

eye-water1755

sky blue1755

lightning1781

Jacky1800

ribbon1811

Daffy's elixir1821

sweet-stuff1835

tiger's milk1850

juniper1857

cream of the wilderness1858

satin1864

Twankay1900

panther1931

mother's ruin1933

needle and pin1937

1835 C. Dickens in Evening Chron. 7 Feb. 3/3 Wretched houses with..‘sweet-stuff’ manufacturers in the cellars.

1851 H. Mayhew London Labour I. 204/1 The sweet-stuff maker (I never heard them called confectioners).

1862 G. A. Sala Accepted Addr. 96 The back parlour of the little sweetstuff shop.

1908 Chambers's Jrnl. Feb. 204/1 The scent for sweetstuffs is very strongly developed in the Customs officer, and he has found sugar in such an unlikely article as blacking.

1911 J. H. Hart Cacao ii. 18 The bean may be used in the same way as almonds, and boiled to sweetstuff with sugar.

1963 Times 18 May 9/4 We teach our students the harmful effects of the consumption of sweetstuffs between meals.

sweet sublimate n. now historical a supposedly sweet-tasting compound of mercury, probably consisting of calomel (mercurous chloride) and/or corrosive sublimate (mercuric chloride) with sugar of lead (lead acetate) and other impurities.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > poison > [noun] > poisonous chemicals

mercury sublimy?1540

sublimate1543

sublimatum1558

sublimy1558

mercury sublimate1562

corrosive sublimate1664

sweet sublimate1664

supplement1769

Prussian acid1783

oxalic acid1788

prussic acid1788

cyanide1815

cyanuret1827

nitrobenzide1835

nitrobenzol1848

pyridine1851

nitrobenzene1852

isonitrile1871

iso-cyanide1877

1664 P. D. C. tr. N. Le Fèvre Compend. Body Chymistry II. ii. x. 207 Then shall you have that they call Mercurius dulcis, or sweet Mercury, sweet Sublimate, the sweet and mitigated Eagle, the tamed Dragon.

1725 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Œconomique Sweet Sublimate is a Corrosive Sublimate, whose Points have been qualify'd by some Preparation.

1828 S. F. Gray Operative Chemist 731 Calomel. This, which is the sweet sublimate of the old chemists, has received a number of names lately, as mild muriate of quicksilver, [etc.].

1962 M. P. Crosland Hist. Stud. Lang. Chem. iii. 112 In the seventeenth century it was known that sweet sublimate and corrosive sublimate were both ‘mixt bodies’ containing mercury and an acid.

2009 J. M. Hightower Diagnosis Mercury v. 51 Mercuric chloride (HgCl₂), also known as corrosive or sweet sublimate, or bichloride of mercury, was once the most commonly prescribed form of mercurial medicine and antiseptic.

sweet tooth n. (tooth n. 2a), a taste or liking for sweet things; also transferred and figurative.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sweetness > [noun] > sweet tooth

sweet tooth1390

the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > appetite > [noun] > appetite for specific kind of food

sweet tooth1390

sweetnessc1440

greasy stomach1592

1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 14 Delicacie his swete toth Hath fostred.

1580 J. Lyly Euphues & his Eng. (new ed.) f. 43^v I am glad that my Adonis hath a sweete tooth in his head.

1631 B. Jonson Staple of Newes 2nd Intermeane 65 in Wks. II I haue a sweet tooth yet.

1710 J. Addison Tatler No. 255. ⁋2 A liquorish Palate, or a sweet Tooth (as they call it).

1899 J. London Let. 29 July (1966) 45 If you're a sweet tooth you will not receive accommodation here except in the fruit line and the candy stores.

1904 P. Fountain Great North-West x. 96 Americans have the sweet-tooth highly developed.

1946 D. Thomas Deaths & Entrances 14 Till the sweet tooth of my love bit dry.

1960 Times 5 July 16/5 A symphony for sweet-tooths.

sweet wine n. wine having a sweet taste (as distinguished from dry wine); wine in the manufacture of which ‘sweets’ or syrup is added.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > wine > types of wine > [noun] > sweet wine

honey-teareOE

sweet winec1386

bastard?c1425

dulce1601

brown bastard1609

dulce1849

vino dolce1902

vino dulce1911

vin doux1958

sticky1982

c1386 G. Chaucer Wife of Bath's Prol. 459 When I had dronke a draughte of swete wyn.

1430–1 Rolls of Parl. IV. 369/1 Every Tonne of swete Wyn..commyng in to this saide Roialme, be weye of Merchandise.

1542 A. Borde Compend. Regyment Helth xxxiv. sig. M.iii^v Swete wynes be good for them the whiche be in consumpcion.

1797 Encycl. Brit. XII. 202/1 The white of an egg, milk, and sweet-wine.

1857 W. A. Miller Elements Chem. III. 118 The liquid..acquires a ropy consistence as is sometimes observed when sweet wines are kept for a time.

b. spec. in distinctive names of sweet-scented or sweet-flavoured species or varieties of plants, fruits, etc., sweet-briar n., sweet-gale n., sweet pea n., sweet-william n.

sweet almond n.

ΚΠ

1718 J. Quincy Pharmacopœia Officinalis ii. iv. 114 Sweet Almonds. These are of a soft, sweet, grateful Taste.

† sweet ballocks n. Obsolete

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > orchids

satyrionOE

bollockwort?a1300

sanicle14..

bollock?a1425

martagon1548

orchis1559

dogstones1562

hare's-ballocks1562

stone1562

bollock grass1578

dog's cods1578

dog's cullions1578

double-leaf1578

fly-orchis1578

goat's cullions1578

goat's orchis1578

priest's pintle1578

twayblade1578

bee-orchis1597

bifoil1597

bird's nest1597

bird's orchis1597

butterfly orchis1597

fenny-stones1597

gelded satyrion1597

gnat satyrion1597

humble-bee orchis1597

lady's slipper1597

sweet ballocks1597

two-blade1605

cullions1611

bee-flower1626

fly-flower1640

man orchis1670

musk orchis1670

moccasin flower1680

gnat-flower1688

faham tea1728

Ophrys1754

green man orchis1762

Arethusa1764

honey flower1771

cypripedium1775

rattlesnake plantain1778

Venus's slipper1785

Adam and Eve1789

lizard orchis179.

epidendrum1791

Pogonia?1801

Vanda1801

cymbidium1815

Oncidium1822

putty-root1822

Noah's Ark1826

yellow moccasin1826

gongora1827

cattleya1828

green man1828

nervine1828

stanhopea1829

dove-flower1831

catasetum1836

Odontoglossum1836

Miltonia1837

letter plant1838

spread eagle1838

letter-leaf1839

swan-plant1841

orchid1843

disa1844

masdevallia1845

Phalaenopsis1846

faham1850

Indian crocus1850

moccasin plant1850

pleione1851

dove orchis1852

nerve root1854

Holy Ghost flower1862

basket-plant1865

lizard's tongue1866

mousetail1866

Sobralia1866

swan-neck1866

swanwort1866

Indian shoe1876

odontoglot1879

wreathewort1879

moth orchid1880

rattlesnake orchid1881

dendrobe1882

dove-plant1882

Madeira orchis1882

man orchis1882

swan-flower1884

slipper-orchid1885

slipper orchis1889

mayflower1894

scorpion orchid1897

moederkappie1910

dove orchid1918

monkey orchid1925

man orchid1927

1597 J. Gerard Herball i. 169 Testiculus Odoratus... Ladie traces:..of some sweete Ballocks, sweete Cods, sweete Cullions.

sweet basil n.

ΚΠ

1647 H. Hexham Copious Eng. & Netherduytch Dict. (Herbs) Sweete Basill, wilde Christus oogen, ofte Gennettekens.

1820 J. Keats Isabella in Lamia & Other Poems 75 She..o'er it set Sweet Basil, which her tears kept ever wet.

sweet bent n.

sweet birch n.

ΚΠ

1796 P. A. Nemnich Allgemeines Polyglotten-Lex. Sweet birch, Betula nigra.

1861 R. Bentley Man. Bot. ii. iii. 652 The bark of B[etula] lenta, known in the United States as Sweet Birch or Cherry Birch.

sweet calabash n.

ΚΠ

1796 P. A. Nemnich Allgemeines Polyglotten-Lex. Sweet calabash, Passiflora laurifolia.

sweet calamus n.

sweet cassava n.

sweet cicely n.

ΚΠ

1787–9 W. Withering Brit. Plants (1796) II. 306 Scandix odorata..Sweet Cicely..Sweet Fern.

sweet clover n.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > leguminous plants > [noun] > sweet trefoil

salad clover1562

old sow1855

sweet trefoil1859

sweet clover1867

1867 A. Gray Man. Bot. Northern U.S. (ed. 5) 128 Melilotus,..Melilot. Sweet Clover.

sweet coltsfoot n.

ΚΠ

1867 A. Gray Man. Bot. Northern U.S. (ed. 5) 227 Nardosmia, Sweet Coltsfoot.

sweet gum n. (also sweet gum-tree)

sweet horse-mint n.

sweet locust n.

ΚΠ

1819 A. L. Hillhouse tr. F. A. Michaux N. Amer. Sylva II. 137 In different parts of the United States, this species [sc. Gleditsia triacanthos] is called indifferently Sweet Locust and Honey Locust.

1863 Chambers's Encycl. Honey Locust Tree..also known as the Sweet Locust and Black Locust.

sweet manioc n.

ΚΠ

1863 H. W. Bates Naturalist on River Amazons II. iii. 215 A superior kind of meal is manufactured at Ega of the sweet mandioca (Manihot Aypi).

sweet marjoram n.

ΚΠ

1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus Amaracus..sweete [1545–52 Elyot, soote] maioram.

a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) iv. v. 16 Indeed sir she was the sweete Margerom of the sallet, or rather the hearbe of grace.

sweet maudlin n.

sweet navew n.

sweet oleander n.

ΚΠ

1886 H. Yule & A. C. Burnell Hobson-Jobson Sweet Oleander,..the common oleander, Nerium odorum.

sweet orange n.

ΚΠ

1785 J. Woodforde Diary 19 Apr. (1926) II. 185 To a Dozen of sweet Oranges to carry home p^d 0. 1. 6.

1796 P. A. Nemnich Allgemeines Polyglotten-Lex. Sweet orange, Citrus aurantium sinense.

1861 R. Bentley Man. Bot. ii. iii. 495 The rind of the Sweet Orange is an aromatic stimulant and tonic.

sweet orchis n.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > orchids > helleborine or lady's tresses

lady's traces1548

orchis1578

sweet orchis1578

butterfly orchis1597

triple Lady's traces1611

goodyera1813

lady's tresses1820

1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball ii. lvi. 222 The sweete Orchis, or Ladie traces are moste commonly to be found..vpon hilles and Downes.

sweet pepper-bush n.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > non-British trees or shrubs > [noun] > clethra trees

clethra1779

sweet pepper-bush1814

lily-of-the-valley tree1885

sweet pepper1923

1814 O. O. Rich Synopsis Genera N. Amer. Plants 50 Clethra. Sweet Pepper-Bush.

1845 A. Wood Class-bk. Bot. ii. 233 C. alnifolia. Sweet-pepper Bush.

1901 C. T. Mohr Plant Life Alabama 652 Sweet Pepper Bush... Common in the coast plain on swampy banks of pine-barren streams.

1976 Hortus Third (L. H. Bailey Hortorium) 286/2 Sweet pepperbush... Summer to autumn.

sweet pine-sap n.

ΚΠ

1867 A. Gray Man. Bot. Northern U.S. (ed. 5) 304 Schweinitzia, Sweet Pine~sap.

sweet pishamin n.

ΚΠ

1836 J. C. Loudon Encycl. Plants (rev. ed.) 1286 Carpodinus, Sweet Pishamin..produces green flowers.

sweet-smallage n.

ΚΠ

1697 J. Ray in Philos. Trans. 1695–7 (Royal Soc.) 19 635 They tasted somewhat like the Root of Seleri, or Sweet Smallage.

sweet sorghum n.

† sweet stones n. Obsolete

ΚΠ

1597 J. Gerard Herball i. 167 The first kind of Sweete stones is a small, base, and lowe plant.

sweet sultan tea n.

ΚΠ

1706 J. Gardiner tr. R. Rapin Of Gardens i. 34 Now larger Cyanies begin to spring, Sweet-Sultans nam'd from the Byzantine King.

sweet trefoil n.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > leguminous plants > [noun] > sweet trefoil

salad clover1562

old sow1855

sweet trefoil1859

sweet clover1867

1859 R. G. Mayne Expos. Lexicon Med. Sci. (1860) Sweet Trefoil, common name for the Trifolium cæruleum.

sweet violet n.

sweet virgin's bower n.

sweet woodruff n.

ΚΠ

1800 J. E. Smith Eng. Bot. XI. 755 Asperula odorata. Sweet Woodruff or Woodroof.

c. Parasynthetic. See also sweet-breasted adj. at Compounds 4. Also sweet-scented adj.

sweet-beamed adj.

ΚΠ

1730 J. Thomson Autumn in Seasons 126 Attemper'd suns arise, Sweet-beam'd.

sweet-blooded adj.

ΚΠ

1859 ‘G. Eliot’ Adam Bede I. i. v. 121 Large-hearted, sweet-blooded natures that never know a narrow or a grudging thought.

sweet-breathed adj. /-brɛθt/

ΚΠ

1617 W. Drummond Forth Feasting sig. A2^v Sweet-breath'd Zephyres.

1623 J. Webster Deuils Law-case i. ii O sweet-breath'd monkeys, how they grow together!

1814 W. Wordsworth Excursion vii. 343 The sweet-breathed violet of the shade.

1881 O. Wilde Poems 209 Most bounteous Spring! That cans't give increase to the sweet-breath'd kine.

1949 M. Mead Male & Female xiv. 283 Life is a race that boys and girls must run clear-eyed, sweet-breathed, well bathed.

† sweet-conditioned adj. Obsolete

ΚΠ

1630 P. Massinger Renegado v. ii. sig. K4 Our sweete condition'd princesse, fayre Donusa.

sweet-dispositioned adj.

ΚΠ

1647 W. Bridge Saints Hiding-place 30 We have a meek and sweet disposition'd Saviour.

sweet-eyed adj.

ΚΠ

1812 W. Tennant Anster Fair i. xxxi. 16 Sweet-ey'd lass.

sweet-faced adj.

ΚΠ

1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream i. ii. 80 Piramus is a sweete fac't man.

a1625 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Coxcombe iii. ii, in Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Oo^v/2 Good sweet fact serving-man.

1885 ‘H. Conway’ Slings & Arrows 168 A pale, sweet-faced woman,..who was dressed as a Sister of Charity.

1981 M. Warner Joan of Arc xiii. 267 The young Joan of Arc, the sweet-faced child of hagiography.

sweet-flavoured adj.

ΚΠ

1952 A. G. L. Hellyer Sanders' Encycl. Gardening (ed. 22) 9 [Actinidia]purpurea, sweet-flavoured purple berries.

sweet-fleshed adj.

ΚΠ

1923 D. H. Lawrence Birds, Beasts & Flowers (London ed.) 41 A rock-living, sweet-fleshed sea-anemone.

sweet-flowered adj.

ΚΠ

1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Sequinant, the sweet-flowred Rush tearmed Squinant.

† sweet-graced adj. Obsolete

ΚΠ

a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. xi. sig. X2^v Whom yet with a sweete-graced bitternes they blamed.

sweet-leafed adj.

ΚΠ

1749 W. Shenstone Irregular Ode 30 The sweet-leaft eglantine.

sweet-mannered adj.

ΚΠ

1887 G. M. Hopkins Further Lett. (1956) 183 The youngest boy Leo is a remarkably winning sweetmannered young fellow.

sweet-minded adj.

ΚΠ

a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. iv. sig. Q3 The sweete minded Philoclea.

sweet-natured adj.

ΚΠ

1650 R. Stapleton tr. F. Strada De Bello Belgico vi. 23 A plaine and sweete-natured man.

1876 ‘G. Eliot’ Daniel Deronda IV. viii. lviii. 178 The sweet-natured, strong Rex.

† sweet-numbered adj. Obsolete number n. 17a.

ΚΠ

1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. ii. ii. 431 Sweet-numbred Homer.

sweet-savoured adj. (cf. Middle English swote sauoured).

ΚΠ

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 326/2 Swete savoured, aromaticq.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) ii. ii. 120 That neuer words were musicke to thine eare,..That neuer meat sweet-sauour'd in thy taste.

sweet-shaped adj.

† sweet-smelled adj. Obsolete

ΚΠ

1632 S. Rutherford Lett. (1863) I. 82 The sweetest-smelled flowers.

sweet-souled adj.

ΚΠ

1747 W. Shenstone Lett. (1777) xlv. 120 That sweet-souled bard Mr. James Thomson.

1790 J. Wolcot Benevolent Epist. to Sylvanus Urban in Wks. (1812) II. 262 Each sweet-soul'd Stanza.

a1930 D. H. Lawrence Etruscan Places (1932) i. 12 Those pure, clean-living, sweet-souled Romans, who smashed nation after nation.

† sweet-sounded adj. Obsolete

ΚΠ

1659 O. Walker Some Instr. Art of Oratory 25 Words, smooth and sweeter-sounded..are to be used.

sweet-tasted adj.

ΚΠ

1807 T. Thomson Syst. Chem. (ed. 3) II. 74 A sweet-tasted salt, called muriate of glucina.

1913 J. Masefield Daffodil Fields 31 Cropping sweet-tasted pasture.

sweet-tempered adj.

ΚΠ

1632 P. Massinger & N. Field Fatall Dowry iii. sig. G4 Sweet temper'd Lord adieu.

1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones IV. xi. ii. 109 She's a sweet-tempered, good-humoured Lady.

1845 C. Dickens Chimes iv. 145 The sweetest-looking, sweetest-tempered girl, eyes ever saw.

sweet-toned adj.

ΚΠ

1870 W. C. Bryant tr. Homer Iliad I. ix. 274 A sweet-toned harp.

sweet-tuned adj.

ΚΠ

1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. ii. i. 275 The Nightingales sweet-tuned voice.

1770 H. Brooke Fool of Quality V. xvii. 227 A well known and sweet tuned voice.

sweet-voiced adj.

ΚΠ

?1807–8 W. Wordsworth Somnambulist 17 A Bird of plumage bright, Sweet-voiced.

1919 J. Masefield Reynard the Fox 11 John Pym..Gross and blunt-headed like a shrike. Yet sweet-voiced as a piping flute.

d. With nouns, forming adjectives having the sense of parasynthetic combinations.

sweet-breath n.

ΚΠ

1648 R. Herrick Hesperides sig. M While sweet-breath Nimphs, attend on you this Day.

sweet-lip n. any of several marine fishes with prominent mouths, esp. an Australian food fish, Lethrinus chrysostomus, or a brightly coloured tropical fish of the family Plectorhynchidæ.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > fish > miscellaneous types > [noun]

mudfish1502

sprat1552

frogfish1598

rockfish1605

yellowtaila1622

sleeper1668

picarel1688

hogfish1735

porkfish1735

sucker1753

zebrafish1771

yellowbelly1775

white steenbras1801

stone-toter1817

stargazer1842

warehou1848

baardman1853

goatfish1864

holostome1864

spot snapper1876

suck-fish1876

mademoiselle1882

queenfish1883

cigar-fish1884

emperor fish1884

rock beauty1885

oilfish1896

aholehole1897

berrugate1898

Photoblepharon1902

sweet-lip1934

rabbitfish1941

redbait1960

the world > animals > fish > superorder Acanthopterygii (spiny fins) > order Perciformes (perches) > family Sparidae (sea-breams) > [noun] > miscellaneous types of

sheep's head1676

stompneus1705

melanure1828

steentjie1893

zebra1905

sweet-lip1934

1934 T. Wood Cobbers xvii. 223 Sweet-lip, and barracouta, a slim silver sword.

1951 T. C. Roughley Fish & Fisheries Austral. (rev. ed.) 75 The best-known of the emperor breams is the sweet-lip or red-mouthed emperor.

1974 J. M. Thomson Fish of Ocean & Shore xiii. 142 The sweetlip emperor, or simply sweetlip..is highly regarded for the table.

† sweet-lips n. Obsolete a delicate eater, epicure.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > eating > gastronomy > [noun] > gastronome or epicure

viandera1556

sweet-lips1580

deipnosophist1581

feaster1585

epicure1586

friand1598

palatist1620

goinfre1643

palate-mana1661

palate-peoplea1661

bon-vivant1695

belly-critica1711

gourmand1758

turtle-eatera1774

connoisseur1796

gullet-fancier1805

gastrophilist1814

gastrologer1820

gastronomer1820

gastrophile1820

gourmet1820

palatician1821

gastrologist1822

gastronome1823

gastronomist1825

degustator1833

aristologist1835

opsophagist1854

gastrosoph1855

bon viveur1865

gastrosopher1894

foodist1906

foodie1980

1580 C. Hollyband Treasurie French Tong Vn friand, friolet, a licorous felow, a sweete lips.

sweet-throat n. sweet-voiced.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > singing > singing voice > [adjective] > qualities of voice > having voice of specific quality

well-voiced1634

sweet-breasteda1640

silvery1821

sweet-throat1870

1870 W. Morris Earthly Paradise: Pt. IV 74 The bright-billed sweet-throat bird.

C2.

sweet Alice n. sweet alyssum, Lobularia maritima (cf. alyssum n. 2) or Arabis alpina, another small cruciferous herb with white flowers.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > cruciferous flowers > white flowers

sweet alyssum1790

milkmaid1876

snow-on-the-mountain1882

sweet Alice1886

1886 J. Britten & R. Holland Dict. Eng. Plant-names 459 Sweet Alice. Arabis alpina, L... A corruption of Sweet Alison, which name belongs more properly to Alyssum maritimum, L.

1927 V. Woolf To Lighthouse i. iv. 36 She was picking Sweet Alice on the bank.

sweet alyssum n. the white-flowered annual plant Lobularia maritima (family Brassicaceae( Cruciferae)), a common bedding plant in gardens.

ΘΚΠ

sweet alyssum1790

milkmaid1876

snow-on-the-mountain1882

sweet Alice1886

1790 Bot. Mag. 3 §́̇101 (heading) Sweet Alyssum.

1822 S. Clarke Hortus Anglicus II. 150 A. maritimum, Sweet Alyssum.

1866 J. Syme in J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. 536 The Sweet Alyssum of gardens is found in some places of Britain, but only imperfectly naturalized where escaped from gardens.

1873 H. W. Longfellow Rhyme Sir Christopher 40 A modest flower~bed thickly sown With sweet alyssum and columbine.

1934 F. S. Fitsgerald & Z. Fitzgerald Show Mr. & Mrs. F. to Number— in Jazz Age (1996) 51 We rode bicycles along the windswept causeways and stared in a dreamy daze at such phenomena as roosters scratching amidst the sweet alyssum.

2006 M. Pollan Omnivore's Dilemma ix. 165 Sweet alyssum..attracts the lacewings and syrphid flies that eat the aphids that can molest lettuces.

sweet-apple n. a name for the sweet-sop n., also called sugar-apple.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular types of fruit > [noun] > tropical exotic fruit > other tropical or exotic fruits

tamarind1539

guava1555

genipat1568

jack1582

genipap1613

custard apple1648

star apple1693

sweet-sop1696

breadfruit1697

sugar-apple1739

sweet-apple1760

guarri1789

ackee1792

marmalade-box1796

five-corner1826

jakkalsbessie1854

Molucca berry1861

bullock's heart1866

guava-apple1866

vegetable egg1866

Jew plum1880

the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular fruit-tree or -plant > [noun] > tropical or exotic fruit-tree or -plant > of tropical America > sweet-sop tree

sweet-sop1696

water apple1696

sugar-apple1739

purple apple1754

custard tree1760

sweet-apple1760

sugar-sop1847

1760 J. Lee Introd. Bot. App. 295/1 Apple, Sweet, Annona.

sweet bay n. (a) the bay laurel, Laurus nobilis; (b) in North America applied to Magnolia virginiana, also called white bay; also attributive and in combination.

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the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > tree or shrub groups > bay-tree and allies > [noun]

laure971

laurela1375

laurel-treea1375

laurya1400

Daphnec1430

bay1530

sweet bay1716

red bay1731

bay-gall1775

sweet bay laurel1858

Oregon myrtle1908

the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > cultivated or ornamental trees and shrubs > [noun] > magnolias

sweet bay1716

umbrella-tree1739

swamp laurel1743

magnolia1748

tulip-tree1751

beaver-tree1756

tulip-laurel1766

champakc1770

cucumber-tree1784

mountain magnolia1785

swamp sassafras1796

laurel magnolia1806

beaver-wood1810

big laurel1810

yulan1822

chatta1834

cucumber1835

port wine magnolia1943

magnolioid1988

1716 Petiveriana i. 246 Barbadoes Sweet-Bay.

1767 Bartram's Jrnl. 29 in W. Stork Acct. E. Florida (ed. 2) On it grew great magnolia, sweet-bay, live-oak, palms.

1850 S. F. Cooper Rural Hours 476 The small Laurel Magnolia, or Sweet Bay, is found as far north as New York, in swampy grounds.

1903 Flora & Sylva 1 19/1 The Laurel Magnolia or Sweet Bay..is certainly a very handsome shrub.

1938 M. K. Rawlings Yearling xviii. 217 The sweet bay was still in bloom, filling the sink-hole with its fragrance.

1958 G. A. Petrides Field Guide Trees & Shrubs 303 Sweet~bay Magnolia... A large shrub or small tree with thick, rather leathery, elliptic leaves that are evergreen.

sweet bay laurel n. = sweet bay n. (a).

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > tree or shrub groups > bay-tree and allies > [noun]

laure971

laurela1375

laurel-treea1375

laurya1400

Daphnec1430

bay1530

sweet bay1716

red bay1731

bay-gall1775

sweet bay laurel1858

Oregon myrtle1908

1858 W. Baird Cycl. Nat. Sci. at Lauraceæ The common, or sweetbay laurel, Laurus nobilis.

sweet-bay willow n. (also sweet-bay-leaved willow) Salix pentandra.

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the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > tree or shrub groups > willow and allies > [noun] > other types of willow

red willow1547

water willow1583

goat's willow1597

rose willow1597

sweet willow1597

French willow1601

siler1607

palm-withy1609

sallowie1610

swallowtail willow1626

willow bay1650

black willow1670

crack-willow1670

grey willow1697

water sallow1761

almond willowa1763

swallow-tailed willow1764

swamp willow1765

golden osier1772

golden willow1772

purple willow1773

sand-willow1786

goat willow1787

purple osier1797

whipcord1812

Arctic willow1818

sage-willow1846

pussy willow1851

Kilmarnock willow1854

sweet-bay willow1857

pussy1858

palm willow1869

Spaniard1871

ground-willow1875

Spanish willow1875

snap-willow1880

diamond willow1884

sandbar willow1884

pussy palm1886

creeping willow1894

bat-willow1907

cricket bat willow1907

silver willow1914

1857 A. Pratt Flowering Plants & Ferns Great Brit. V. 78 S[alix] pentandra (Sweet Bay-leaved Willow).

sweet-bough n. U.S. an early variety of apple or the tree that bears it.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular fruit-tree or -plant > [noun] > apple tree > varieties of

birtle-tree1483

wyde?1523

renneta1568

pearmain1597

codling tree1629

codling1651

passe-pomme1691

Rhode Island greening1795

Spitzenberg1795

tulip-apple1842

Wagener1848

sweet-bough1850

Lord Derby1862

Chinese crab1882

1850 Ann. Rep. Commissioner Patents 1849: Agric. 281 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (31st Congr., 1st Sess.: House of Representatives Executive Doc. 20, Pt. 2) VI Of summer apples, the best..are the early-harvest and early sweet~bough.

1906 Harper's Mag. Apr. 667 He halted under the sweet-bough and gave one branch a shake.

sweet broom n. (a) ? some species of broom ( Cytisus or Genista); (b) a name for Scoparia dulcis (N.O. Scrophulariaceæ), also called sweet broom-weed n.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Scrophulariaceae (figwort and allies) > [noun] > sweetweed

West Indian tea1728

goatweed1756

sweetweed1760

sweet broom1884

liquorice weed1889

sweet broom-weed1890

1736 N. Bailey Dict. Domesticum 554 Sweet-Broom.

1884 W. Miller Dict. Eng. Names Plants Scoparia dulcis, Sweet Broom.

sweet broom-weed n.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Scrophulariaceae (figwort and allies) > [noun] > sweetweed

West Indian tea1728

goatweed1756

sweetweed1760

sweet broom1884

liquorice weed1889

sweet broom-weed1890

1890 Cent. Dict. at Scoparia S[coparia] dulcis is used as a stomachic in the West Indies, and is called sweet broomweed and licorice-weed.

sweet buckeye n. a yellow-flowered horse chestnut, Aesculus octandra, found in eastern North America.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > tree or shrub groups > horse-chestnut tree and allies > [noun]

horse chestnut1597

poison root1712

Pavia1731

buckeye1763

buckwood1787

Ohio buckeye1810

sweet buckeye1815

chestnut1842

1815 D. Drake Nat. & Statist. View Cincinnati ii. 77 Sweet buckeye.

1943 R. Peattie Great Smokies & Blue Ridge 155 The sweet buckeye or horse chestnut is found here up to 125 feet in height.

1969 T. H. Everett Living Trees of World xxii. 224/2 The largest of the Americans is the sweet or yellow buckeye.

sweet cane n. = sweet flag n.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > a grass or grasses > reedy or aquatic grasses > [noun] > sweet flag

beeworteOE

sweet calamusa1398

acorus?a1425

acorum1601

sweet rush1607

sweet cane1611

sweet smelling flag1640

sweet flag1790

myrtle flag1796

myrtle grass1796

flag-root1851

myrtle sedge1857

sweet sedge1857

1611 Bible (King James) Isa. xliii. 24 Thou hast bought mee no sweete cane with money.

1718 J. Quincy Pharmacopœia Officinalis ii. i. 85 Sweet-Cane..is a spicy bitterish Root.

1822 J. Campbell Trav. S. Afr.: Narr. 2nd Journey I. xx. 226 A constant succession of fresh visitants arrived, several of whom brought us presents of sweet cane.

sweet chestnut n. the common or Spanish chestnut, Castanea sativa, as distinguished from the bitter inedible horse chestnut n.; also, the fruit or timber of this tree.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > edible nuts or nut-trees > [noun] > chestnut

chesteine1362

castanea1398

chestnut1519

Sardian acorn1551

maroon1594

sweet chestnut1818

marron1877

Sardinian acorn1895

the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > edible nuts or nut-trees > [noun] > chestnut > chestnut tree

chesteinea700

chesteine-treea1330

castanea1398

chestnut tree1535

chestnut1578

Spanish chestnut1763

sweet chestnut1818

1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian vii, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. III. 172 Large sweet chesnut-trees and beeches.

1838 J. C. Loudon Arboretum III. 1983 The term Sweet Chestnut is applied with reference to the fruit.

1909 H. J. Elwes & A. Henry Trees Great Brit. & Ireland IV. 844 The Sweet or Spanish Chestnut..is..one of the largest trees in England.

1956 Handbk. Hardwoods (Forest Products Res. Lab.) 72 Sweet chestnut bears a close resemblance to oak but is more easily worked.

1977 New Yorker 4 July 22/2 If he could, he would supplement local bounty only with sweet chestnuts and Korean pears.

1981 G. Keynes Gates of Memory xxix. 351 Nearer to us were glorious stands of trees,..sweet chestnuts hundreds of years old with twisted trunks.

sweet corn n. U.S. a sweet-flavoured variety of maize.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > cereal, corn, or grain > [noun] > maize > maize plants

maizea1544

Indian wheat1578

Guinea wheat1598

corn1608

sweet corn1646

Virginia wheat1651

soft corn1751

zea1760

popcorn1838

pod corn1884

pod maize1904

the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > cereal, corn, or grain > [noun] > maize > types of

green cornc1450

flint corn1705

flint1802

sweet corna1817

squaw corn1823

dent corn1853

tassel-corn1883

country gentleman1892

1646 E. Hopkins Let. in Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. (1863) 4th Ser. VI. 334 Wequash Cooks brother tooke from him..2 bushell of sweet corne.

1810 T. Jefferson Garden Bk. (1944) 424 [Sowed]..Sweet or shriveled corn in the N.W. corner.

a1817 T. Dwight Trav. New-Eng. & N.-Y. (1821) I. 49 At New-Haven the sweet corn may be had in full perfection for the table by successive plantings from the middle of July to the middle of November.

1909 ‘O. Henry’ Roads of Destiny xxii. 364 Cigarettes rolled with sweet corn husk were as honey to Buck's palate.

1917 G. F. Will & G. E. Hyde Corn among Indians 118 The Upper Missouri tribes prepared this ‘sweet corn’ for winter use in two ways: by boiling it in kettles, and by roasting it in fires.

1974 A. Price Other Paths to Glory ii. iii. 139 To the north..of the house there had been..a single tiny field of sweet corn.

sweet fern n. a name for two plants with fern-like leaves and aromatic scent: (a) locally in England, the sweet cicely, Myrrhis odorata (N.O. Umbelliferæ); (b) in North America, the shrub Comptonia asplenifolia (N.O. Myricaceæ).

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > shrubs > myrica and allies > [noun]

galec1000

Dutch myrtle1597

sweet willow1597

gow1598

sweet-gale1640

candle-tree1692

candleberry tree1731

tallow shrub1770

myrica1791

wax-tree1791

wax-plant1801

wax-myrtle1813

Comptonia1823

tallow-bush1835

wax-berry1835

sweet fern1849

bog myrtle1866

meadow fern1876

flea-wood1892

the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Umbelliferae (umbellifers) > [noun] > cicely or chervil

myrrhis1548

myrrh1597

sweet cicely1597

sweet chervil1688

sweet fern1849

1849 J. H. Balfour Man. Bot. §1037 The leaves of Comptonia asplenifolia, Sweet Fern, are found..to contain peculiar glands.

sweet flag n. a rush-like plant, Acorus Calamus (N.O. Araceæ or Orontiaceæ), widely distributed in the North Temperate zone, growing in water and wet places, with an aromatic odour, and having a thick creeping rootstock of a pungent aromatic flavour.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > a grass or grasses > reedy or aquatic grasses > [noun] > sweet flag

beeworteOE

sweet calamusa1398

acorus?a1425

acorum1601

sweet rush1607

sweet cane1611

sweet smelling flag1640

sweet flag1790

myrtle flag1796

myrtle grass1796

flag-root1851

myrtle sedge1857

sweet sedge1857

1640 J. Parkinson Theatrum Botanicum 139 This sweet smelling Flagge hath many flaggy long and narrow fresh greene leaves.

1728 R. Bradley Dict. Botanicum (at cited word) Calamus aromaticus Off. is also call'd Acorus, and in English, The sweet smelling Flag.]

1790 L. Castiglioni Viaggio negli Stati Uniti II. 185 Acorus verus..Sweet-flagg.

1796 W. Withering Arrangem. Brit. Plants (ed. 3) III. 917 Sweet Flag.

1858 P. L. Simmonds Dict. Trade Products Sweet-flag..is..employed to scent aromatic baths, perfumery, and hair-powder.

sweet gum n. (also sweet gum-tree) = liquidambar n.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular tree or plant yielding useful gum or resin > [noun] > liquidambar tree

sweet gum1700

copalm1775

red gum tree1839

liquidambar1843

satin walnut1879

red gum1883

1700 Baltimore Rent Rolls in Maryland Hist. Mag. (1924) 19 367 127 acre Sur[veyed]..begun at a bounded sweet gum.

1709 J. Lawson New Voy. Carolina 95 The sweet Gum-Tree, so call'd, because of the fragrant Gum it yields in the Spring-time, upon Incision of the Bark, or Wood.

1717 Petiveriana iii. 195 Sweet-gum. Because in the Spring it yeilds a fragrant Gum, upon cutting its Bark or Wood, of great use in Tetters, Scurfs, Inflammations, etc.

1856 A. Gray Man. Bot. Northern U.S. (1860) 148 Liquidambar, Sweet-Gum Tree.

1869 A. J. Evans Vashti iii. 43 The trunk of a decayed and fallen sweet-gum.

1884 W. Miller Dict. Eng. Names Plants Liquidambar styraceflua, Copalm Balsam-tree, Sweet Gumtree.

1981 A. Mitchell Gardener's Bk. Trees 101/1 For summer foliage and autumn colours the Sweet gum has few equals.

sweet melon n. = spanspek n.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > fruit and vegetables > fruit or a fruit > gourd > [noun] > melon > musk melons

muskmelon1573

sugar-melon1600

cantaloupe1739

rock melon1789

mango1866

sweet melon1883

spanspek1886

honeydew1916

the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular types of fruit > [noun] > gourd > melon > other types of melon

melopepon1555

muskmelon1573

macock1588

sugar-melon1600

cantaloupe1739

rock cantaloupe1776

rock melon1789

nutmeg melon1811

citron1826

pie melon1857

sweet melon1883

spanspek1886

honeydew1916

pepino1922

Ogen melon1967

1883 J. Roth Man. S. Afr. Gardening 78 The Water Melons must not be ripped or cut, as required by Sweet Melons.

1970 Rand Daily Mail (Johannesburg) 28 Feb. 7/4 South Africans also speak of..‘sweet melons’.

sweet milk-vetch n. Astragalus glycyphyllus, with sweet-flavoured leaves.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > leguminous plants > [noun] > milk-vetch

astragalus1548

sea trefoil1548

sea trifoly1548

milk-vetch1597

liquorice vetch1640

prairie pea1848

sweet milk-vetch1860

buffalo-bean1906

1860 Chambers's Encycl. I. 504/1 The Sweet Milk-vetch, or Wild Liquorice.

sweet nasturtium n. (see quot. 1712). Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines for specific purpose > preparations treating or preventing specific ailments > [noun] > for indigestion > plant-derived

cardamom?c1425

sweet nasturtium1712

hydrastis1861

papain1880

1712 J. Browne tr. P. Pomet et al. Compl. Hist. Druggs I. 21 It is call'd Cardamome, or sweet Nasturtium, because it has a smell much like the Nasturtium.

sweet olive n. an evergreen shrub, Osmanthus fragrans, of the family Oleaceæ, native to eastern Asia and bearing clusters of small fragrant white flowers.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > cultivated or ornamental trees and shrubs > [noun] > osmanthus

Osmanthus1836

sweet olive1861

tea olive1952

1789 W. Aiton Hortus Kewensis I. 14 Sweet-scented Olive. Nat[ive] of Cochinchina, China, and Japan.]

1861 S. K. Holmes Jrnl. 15 Oct. in Brokenburn (1955) 61 Mrs. Carson gave Mamma plants of sweet olive..and purple magnolia.

1899 Scribner's Mag. 25 50/1 As gay with flowers as a girl's hat, and as fragrant of sweet-olive, citronelle, and heliotrope as her garments.

1958 S. A. Grau Hard Blue Sky iii. 122 There was..the winey odor of the sweet olive.

sweet pepper n. (a) = pepper n. 2b; (b) = sweet pepperbush at pepperbush n. 2b.

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the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > non-British trees or shrubs > [noun] > clethra trees

clethra1779

sweet pepper-bush1814

lily-of-the-valley tree1885

sweet pepper1923

1923 H. C. Thompson Veg. Crops xxv. 400 Of the large-fruited, sweet peppers, Ruby King, Bell or Bullnose,..and Golden Queen are well-known varieties.

1944 E. A. Holton Yankees were like This 84 The perfume of bush honeysuckle and sweet pepper from the swamps.

1969 S. G. Harrison et al. Oxf. Bk. Food Plants 128/1 The larger-fruited kinds [of Capsicum annuum] are quite mild in taste and are known as ‘sweet peppers’.

1972 Country Life 16 Mar. 625/3 Every garden that can provide lime-free soil ought to contain a bush of the Sweet Pepper, Clethra alnifolia.

sweet plum n. (a) see quot. 1796; (b) the Queensland plum, Owenia cerasifera; (c) a species of hog-plum, Spondias pleigyna.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular types of fruit > [noun] > stone fruit > plum > other types of

white plumc1330

bullacea1375

myxe?1440

prunelloa1450

bullace-fruit1530

horse plum1530

plum1530

wheat-plum1538

wheaten plum1542

choke-plum1556

pear plum1573

finger plum1577

scad1577

skeg1601

merchant1602

bullace-plum1608

malacadonian1608

prune plum1613

date plum1626

mussel plum1626

amber plum1629

black plum1629

primordian1629

queen mother1629

winter crack1629

myrobalan1630

Christian1651

Monsieur's plum1658

cinnamon-plum1664

date1664

primordial1664

Orleans1674

mirabelle1706

myrobalan plum1708

Mogul1718

mussel1718

Chickasaw plum1760

blue gage1764

magnum bonum1764

golden drop1772

beach-plum1785

sweet plum1796

winesour1836

wild plum1838

quetsch1839

egg-plum1859

Victoria1860

cherry plum1866

bladder-plum1869

prune1872

sour plum1874

Carlsbad plum1885

horse-jug1886

French plum1939

guava1555

anchovy pear1657

river pear1696

sour-sop tree1696

monkey apple1750

stopper-berry tree1750

sour-sop1753

chocho1756

sweet plum1796

pequi1819

Spanish plum1823

jaboticaba1824

christophene1830

Quito orange1846

pepino1850

mountain mango1861

chayote1884

Suriname cherry1895

feijoa1898

choko1902

1796 P. A. Nemnich Allgemeines Polyglotten-Lex. Sweet plumb, Prunus americana.

1874 J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. (rev. ed.) Suppl. 1324/2 Owenia cerasifera is called the Sweet Plum or Rancooran.

1889 J. H. Maiden Useful Native Plants Austral. 599 Spondias pleiogyna,..‘Sweet Plum’, or ‘Burdekin Plum’.

sweet potato n. the edible tuber of a perennial vine, Ipomœa batatas, native to South America and widely cultivated elsewhere.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > fruit and vegetables > vegetables > root vegetable > [noun] > sweet potato

potato1565

batata1577

potato root1583

Spanish potato1599

red batata1696

Virginia potato1715

sweet potato1750

yam1753

kumara1773

boniato1800

camote1842

Carolina potato1848

Carolina1884

mickey1936

kau kau1937

the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular vegetables > [noun] > root vegetables > sweet potato

batata1577

potato root1583

red batata1696

sweet potato1750

yam1753

kumara1773

camote1842

Carolina1884

1750 J. Birket Some Remarks Voy. N. Amer. 9 They have..abundance of..the Sweet Potatoe.

1775 B. Romans Conc. Nat. Hist. E. & W. Florida 84 They cultivate..the esculent Convolvulus, (vulgo) sweet potatoes.

1832 E. Lankester Veg. Substances Food 126 The plant carried to Ireland by Captain Hawkins, in 1565, was the Spanish batata, or sweet potato.

1972 Y. Lovelock Veg. Bk. i. 233 Sweet potato is now grown throughout the tropics.

1976 M. H. Kingston Woman Warrior (1977) 79 My mother liked to look at the ducks and plan how she would dig a pond for them near the sweet potato field.

sweet scabious n. Scabiosa atropurpurea; also applied to the North American Erigeron annuus (N.O. Compositæ); also E. philadelphicus.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Compositae (composite plants) > [noun] > erigeron

sweet scabious1789

fleabane1813

mountain daisy1897

mare's tail1900

1789 W. Aiton Hortus Kewensis I. 137 Sweet Scabious. Nat[ive].

1796 P. A. Nemnich Allgemeines Polyglotten-Lex. Sweet scabious, Scabiosa atropurpurea.

1828 C. S. Rafinesque Med. Flora U.S. I. 162 Erigeron Philadelphicum... Vulgar Names—Skevish, Scabish, Sweet Scabious [etc.].

1856 A. Gray Man. Bot. Northern U.S. (1860) 198 Erigeron annuum..(Daisy Fleabane. Sweet Scabious).

1937 Range Plant Handbk. (U.S. Dept. Agric. Forest Service) W67 Annual wild-daisy (E. annuus) and Philadelphia wild-daisy, misnamed sweet scabious..are other wild-daisies with similar properties.

1976 Hortus Third (L. H. Bailey Hortorium) 1014/1 Sweet scabious..naturalized in California.

sweet sedge n. = sweet flag n.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > a grass or grasses > reedy or aquatic grasses > [noun] > sweet flag

beeworteOE

sweet calamusa1398

acorus?a1425

acorum1601

sweet rush1607

sweet cane1611

sweet smelling flag1640

sweet flag1790

myrtle flag1796

myrtle grass1796

flag-root1851

myrtle sedge1857

sweet sedge1857

1857 A. Pratt Flowering Plants & Ferns Great Brit. V. 323 Acorus (Sweet Sedge).

sweet vernal grass n. Anthoxanthum odoratum (see vernal adj. 3b).

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular fodder plants > [noun] > grasses used for hay or pasture

windlestrawc1000

red grass1582

spring grass1643

sweet-grass1709

herd-grass1747

Guinea grass1756

vernal grass1762

vernal1771

Paspalum1772

buffalo grass1784

Rhode Island bent1790

red-top1792

finetop1824

kangaroo-grass1827

gamagrass1831

sweet vernal grass1839

yellow-top1839

grama1844

sesame grass1845

sacate1848

Para grass1850

Hungarian1859

alfilaria1860

sacaton1865

Mitchell grass1867

teosinte1877

Landsborough grass1883

turnip-grass1889

brown top1891

ichu1891

manna1897

Rhodes grass1903

Sudan1911

Kikuyu grass1913

never-fail1923

buffel grass1955

1839 J. Lindley School Bot. 187 Anthoxanthum..odoratum (Sweet Vernal Grass).

sweet willow n. (a) = sweet-bay willow n. (see willow n.); (b) = sweet-gale n.

ΚΠ

1597 J. Gerard Herball iii. 1228 Myrtus Brabantica, siue Elæagnus Cordi. Gaule, sweete Willow, or Dutch Myrtle tree.

1731 P. Miller Gardeners Dict. I. at Salix The Bay-leav'd Sweet Willow.

1776 W. Withering Bot. Arrangem. Veg. Great Brit. II. 610 Gale..Sweet Willow. Dutch Myrtle. In marshy barren ground.

1839 J. J. Audubon Ornithol. Biogr. V. 288 A heavy growth of cotton-wood, ash, and sweet-willow.

1855 A. Pratt Flowering Plants & Ferns Great Brit. V. 56 Sweet Gale, or Dutch Myrtle..is called Sweet Willow.

C3. Combinations of the adverb (or in which sweet is in adverbial relation to the second element).

a. With participles and participial adjectives: see also sweet-recording adj., sweet-spoken adj. at Compounds 4 and sweet-smelling adj.

sweet-bleeding adj.

ΚΠ

1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. i. sig. A4 The Mirrhe sweete bleeding in the bitter wound.

sweet-breathing adj.

ΚΠ

a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. v. sig. Q8^v It might seeme that Loue..was there to refreshe himselfe betweene their sweete-breathing lippes.

a1822 P. B. Shelley Cyclops in Posthumous Poems (1824) 351 Pied flowers, sweet-breathing.

1856 R. A. Vaughan Hours with Mystics (1860) I. 23 The sweet-breathing air.

sweet-complaining adj.

ΚΠ

a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) iii. ii. 85 The nights dead silence Will well become such sweet complaining grieuance.

sweet-flowering adj.

ΚΠ

1596 Raigne of Edward III sig. F1 Sweete flowring peace.

sweet-flowing adj.

ΚΠ

1721 A. Ramsay Petit. Whin-bush Club i Sweet-flowing Clyde.

1784 W. Cowper Poplar Field 12 The scene where his melody charm'd me before, Resounds with his sweet-flowing ditty no more.

sweet-looking adj.

ΚΠ

1845 C. Dickens Chimes iv. 145 The sweetest-looking, sweetest-tempered girl, eyes ever saw.

sweet-murmuring adj.

ΚΠ

1743 R. Blair Grave 8 In grateful Errors thro' the Under-wood Sweet-murmuring.

† sweet savouring adj. Obsolete

sweet-set adj.

ΚΠ

1592 Arden of Feversham iii. v. 146 How you women can insinuate, And cleare a trespasse with your sweete set tongue!

sweet-singing adj.

ΚΠ

a1593 C. Marlowe Hero & Leander (1598) ii. sig. Div^v Sweet singing Meremaids, sported with their loues.

1740 A. Dewes in M. Delany Autobiogr. & Corr. (1861) II. 131 Do you ever hear from sweet-singing Birch?

sweet-smiling adj.

ΚΠ

1673 J. Milton On Death Fair Infant viii, in Poems (new ed.) 20 Wert thou that sweet smiling Youth!

sweet-sounding adj.

ΚΠ

1595 W. S. Lamentable Trag. Locrine i. i. 239 Plaidst thou as sweet, on the sweet sounding lute.

1743 P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Odes II. iv. iii. 17 Goddess of the sweet-sounding lute.

1910 W. de la Mare Three Mulla-mulgars v. 71 When you hear my sweet-sounding..song.

sweet-spun adj.

ΚΠ

a1657 G. Daniel Trinarchodia: Henry V ccclxxx, in Poems (1878) IV. 196 Nor lov'd Court-Sweets, nor Sweet Spun Dialects.

sweet-suggesting adj.

ΚΠ

a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) ii. vi. 7 O sweet-suggesting Loue.

sweet-touched adj.

ΚΠ

c1602 C. Marlowe tr. Ovid Elegies iii. xi. sig. F2 Sweet toucht harp that to moue stones was able.

sweet-whispered adj.

ΚΠ

1843 G. P. R. James Forest Days II. x. 185 Many a sweet-whispered word was there, while all was laughter and merriment around.

b. With adjectives (chiefly poetic, denoting a combination of sweetness with some other quality). Combinations of this class were much favoured by Sylvester, who has sweet-charming , sweet-piercing, sweet-rapting, sweet-sacred, sweet-sweating, sweet-warbling.

sweet-bitter adj.

ΚΠ

1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. vi. 195 They doo discharge On others shoulders their sweet-bitter Charge.

1690 J. Dryden Amphitryon iii. 33 The stern Goddess of sweet-bitter Cares.

sweet-bright adj.

sweet-chaste adj.

ΚΠ

1598 R. Barnfield Remembrance Eng. Poets ii, in Encomion Lady Pecunia sig. E2^v Daniell, praised for thy sweet-chast Verse.

sweet-familiar adj.

ΚΠ

1865 G. M. Hopkins Poems (1967) 21 New-dated from the terms that reappear, More sweet-familiar grows my love to thee.

sweet-sad adj.

ΚΠ

1946 A. Hutchings in A. L. Bacharach Brit. Music xvi. 200 Parts were Arthur Blissy, and none the worse for that; parts were sweet-sad and Englysshe.

1962 R. P. Jhabvala Get Ready for Battle ii. 97 There was music blaring out of various radios, sweet-sad music played at top volume.

† sweet-savouring adj. Obsolete

ΚΠ

1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Ezek. xxvii. 19 Swete sauerynge spice.

1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 44 Sueit sairing flouris.

C4. Miscellaneous Special Combinations:

sweet-and-twenty n. a Shakespearean phrase (see twenty adj. 2), misunderstood by later writers to mean ‘a sweet girl of twenty years old’.

ΘΚΠ

the world > people > person > young person > young woman > [noun]

daughterOE

maidenOE

young womanOE

mayc1175

burdc1225

maidc1275

wenchc1290

file1303

virginc1330

girla1375

damselc1380

young ladya1393

jilla1425

juvenclec1430

young person1438

domicellea1464

quean1488

trull1525

pulleta1533

Tib1533

kittyc1560

dell1567

gillian1573

nymph1584

winklota1586

frotion1587

yuffrouw1589

pigeon1592

tit1599

nannicock1600

muggle1608

gixy1611

infanta1611

dilla1627

tittiea1628

whimsy1631

ladykin1632

stammel1639

moggie1648

zitellaa1660

baggagea1668

miss1668

baby1684

burdie1718

demoiselle1720

queanie?1800

intombi1809

muchacha1811

jilt1816

titter1819

ragazza1827

gouge1828

craft1829

meisie1838

sheila1839

sixteenc1840

chica1843

femme1846

muffin1854

gel1857

quail1859

kitten1870

bud1880

fräulein1883

sub-debutante1887

sweet-and-twenty1887

flapper1888

jelly1889

queen1894

chick1899

pusher1902

bit of fluff1903

chicklet1905

twist and twirl1905

twist1906

head1913

sub-deb1916

tabby1916

mouse1917

tittie1918

chickie1919

wren1920

bim1922

nifty1923

quiff1923

wimp1923

bride1924

job1927

junior miss1927

hag1932

tab1932

sort1933

palone1934

brush1941

knitting1943

teenybopper1966

weeny-bopper1972

Valley Girl1982

a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) ii. iii. 50 Then come kisse me sweet and twentie .

1887 J. Ashby-Sterry Lazy Minstrel (1892) 76 I love the eyes of peerless blue, And nameless grace of Sweet-and-Twenty!

1901 G. K. Menzies Prov. Sk. (1902) 48 When one's special sweet-and-twenty Is enshrined in one's Canader on the Cher.

† sweet-breasted adj. [see breast n. 5c] Obsolete sweet-voiced.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > singing > singing voice > [adjective] > qualities of voice > having voice of specific quality

well-voiced1634

sweet-breasteda1640

silvery1821

sweet-throat1870

a1640 F. Beaumont et al. Loves Cure iii. i, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Rrrrr3/1 A proper man,..Sweet breasted, as the Nightingale, or Thrush.

sweet-lipped adj. (also sweet-lipt) having sweet lips; usually, speaking sweetly.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > mouth > [adjective] > lip or lips > types of

babber-lippedc1400

blab-lippedc1430

blabber-lipped1483

thick-lippeda1529

blobber-lipped1593

blub1603

red-lipped1605

rose-lippeda1616

blubbered1634

sweet-lippeda1644

labrous1656

blobber1670

blubber1677

blubber-lipped1690

red-mouthed1838

blubberous1863

semihiant1873

slobber1895

labrose1905

the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > [adjective] > having pleasing speech or eloquent

well-speakingOE

renablec1300

fair-speakinga1398

well-tonguedc1480

honey-mouthed1539

golden-mouthed1542

sweet-mouthed1542

fine-mouthed?1549

silver-tongued1592

silver1594

gold-mouthed1595

honey-tongued1595

nectar-tongued1596

tongue-gilt1608

feather-tongueda1618

chrysostomatical1623

dulciloquent1656

sweet-spoken1716

sweet-lipped1783

chrysostomic1816

smooth-spoken1821

superfluent1822

honey-lipped1833

nice spoken1852

articulate1892

a1644 F. Quarles Solomons Recantation (1645) Soliloquy viii. 43 And Candle-light devotion, trim'd and straw'd With sweet-lipt Roses.

1783 W. Gordon tr. Livy Rom. Hist. iii. lxviii The embellishments of a sweet-lipped tribune.

a1845 T. Hood Lamia v, in W. Jerdan Autobiogr. (1852) I. 273 Nay, sweet-lipp'd Silence, 'Tis now your turn to talk.

sweet-mouthed adj. /-maʊðd/ †(a) fond of sweet-flavoured things, dainty; (b) speaking sweetly (usually ironically).

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sweetness > [adjective] > sweet-toothed

sweet-mouthed1542

sweet-toothed1615

the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > [adjective] > having pleasing speech or eloquent

well-speakingOE

renablec1300

fair-speakinga1398

well-tonguedc1480

honey-mouthed1539

golden-mouthed1542

sweet-mouthed1542

fine-mouthed?1549

silver-tongued1592

silver1594

gold-mouthed1595

honey-tongued1595

nectar-tongued1596

tongue-gilt1608

feather-tongueda1618

chrysostomatical1623

dulciloquent1656

sweet-spoken1716

sweet-lipped1783

chrysostomic1816

smooth-spoken1821

superfluent1822

honey-lipped1833

nice spoken1852

articulate1892

the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > appetite > [adjective] > having (good) appetite > having appetite for specific kind of food

sweet-mouthed1542

sweeta1616

sweet-toothed1615

sugary1664

1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 45 For that he was so sweete mouthed, and drouned in the voluptuousnesse of high fare.

1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Leschard, a lickorous, or sweet-mouthed slapsawce.

a1627 T. Middleton & W. Rowley Spanish Gipsie (1653) ii. sig. D This cherry-lip'd, sweet-mouth'd villaine.

a1722 E. Lisle Observ. Husbandry (1757) 409 Nuts, being so sweet, would make them so sweet-mouthed, that [etc.].

1886 J. F. Maurice in Lett. fr. Donegal Pref. p. vi The class which Mr. Parnell never speaks of except as the ‘felon’ landlords, just as his sweet-mouthed friends speak of The Times.

† sweet-recording adj. [record v.¹ 3.] Obsolete singing sweetly, tuneful.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > [adjective] > melodious or harmonious

sweetc900

merryOE

softc1230

accordanta1325

well-soundingc1350

cordant1382

sootc1385

songfula1400

melodiousa1425

sugaredc1430

well-toneda1500

tunable1504

dulcea1513

equivalenta1513

consonant?1521

harmonicala1527

harmoniousc1550

consorteda1586

Orphean1593

concentful1595

melodical1596

sweet-recording1598

tuneful1598

sirenical1599

high-tuned1603

nightingale-like1611

soundful?1615

according1626

modulaminous1637

undiscording1645

canorous1646

symphonious1652

concinnous1654

consonous1654

harmonic1667

sirenica1704

symphonial1773

concentual1782

chantant1785

Memnonian1800

melodized1807

Orphic1817

undiscordant1819

concentuous1850

fluting1852

melodic1871

well-orchestrated1872

jarless1876

tuny1885

tunesome1890

1598 E. Ford Parismus iii. sig. C2^v They heard the sound of most sweete recording Musicke, which made Dionisius wonder.

1601 R. Chester Loves Martyr 123 The sweet recording Swanne Apolloes ioy.

sweet-seasoned adj. ‘seasoned’ or imbued with sweetness.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > pleasure > quality of being pleasant or pleasurable > [adjective] > honeyed, mellifluous, or luscious

honeyfula1400

honeyed1435

mellifluous?a1475

sugarc1530

sweetful1589

sugary1591

honeysome1593

sweet-seasoned1609

sugar-candied1623

creamya1640

luscious1651

saccharine1841

mouth-watering1847

sugar-candyish1852

goluptious1856

yummy1899

1609 W. Shakespeare Sonnets lxxv. sig. E4^v So are you to my thoughts as food to life, Or as sweet season'd shewers are to the ground.

1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. i. 9 A bitter pleasant tast, of a sweete-seasoned sowre.

sweet seventeen n. seventeen regarded as the characteristic age of prettiness and innocence in a girl; cf. sweet sixteen n. which is more common.

ΘΚΠ

the world > people > person > young person > young woman > [noun] > state or quality of being

sweet seventeen1791

young ladyhood1843

young-womanhood1852

young ladyship1856

young ladyishness1867

damselhood1880

flapperhood1905

flapperdom1907

flapperism1909

1791 Misc. Prose & Verse 1 As fair a girl as could be seen, Was not a second less than sweet seventeen.

1855 Ld. Tennyson Brook in Maud & Other Poems 107 Claspt hands and that petitionary grace Of sweet seventeen subdued me ere she spoke.

sweet sixteen n. sixteen regarded as the characteristic age of prettiness and innocence in a girl; cf. sweet seventeen n. which is less common.

ΘΚΠ

the world > people > person > young person > young woman > [adjective]

maidenly1530

maidenlike1548

maiden1594

young-ladylike1754

sweet sixteen1826

young ladyish1832

young-womanly1836

flapperish1920

teenybop1967

the mind > attention and judgement > attractiveness > [noun] > attractive person > woman > most attractive stage

sweet sixteen1826

1826 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 20 138/1 A bright-eyed, round-limbed virgin of sweet sixteen.

1898 J. Thornton (title of song) When you were sweet sixteen.

1977 Grimsby Evening Tel. 5 May 12/3 Unfortunately everybody can't be sweet 16 and there are many shops catering for the older woman.

sweet-spoken adj. speaking sweetly, using pleasant language (cf. plain-spoken adj.).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > [adjective] > having pleasing speech or eloquent

well-speakingOE

renablec1300

fair-speakinga1398

well-tonguedc1480

honey-mouthed1539

golden-mouthed1542

sweet-mouthed1542

fine-mouthed?1549

silver-tongued1592

silver1594

gold-mouthed1595

honey-tongued1595

nectar-tongued1596

tongue-gilt1608

feather-tongueda1618

chrysostomatical1623

dulciloquent1656

sweet-spoken1716

sweet-lipped1783

chrysostomic1816

smooth-spoken1821

superfluent1822

honey-lipped1833

nice spoken1852

articulate1892

1716 J. Addison Drummer iv. 34 You are such a sweet-spoken Man, it does one's Heart good to receive your Orders.

sweet-throated adj. sweet-voiced.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [adjective] > pleasant > having pleasant voice

sweet-tongued1598

well-voiced1634

sweet-throated1887

1887 J. R. Lowell Credidimus in Atlantic Monthly Feb. 251 Who knows but from our loins may spring (Long hence) some winged sweet-throated thing.

1928 W. B. Yeats tr. Sophocles King Oedipus 5 What message of disaster from that sweet-throated Zeus?

sweet-tongued adj. /-tʌŋd/ having a sweet tongue or utterance, sweet-voiced, sweet-spoken.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [adjective] > pleasant > having pleasant voice

sweet-tongued1598

well-voiced1634

sweet-throated1887

1598 J. Marston Certaine Satyres in Metamorph. Pigmalions Image 75 Sweet tongu'd Orpheus.

a1758 Ramsay in Evergreen Contents vii Sweit tungd Scot, quha sings the welcum hame.

1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. II. v. viii. 337 Beautiful sweet-tongued Female Citizens.

sweet-toothed adj. /-tuːθt/ having a ‘sweet tooth’, fond of sweet things or delicacies.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sweetness > [adjective] > sweet-toothed

sweet-mouthed1542

sweet-toothed1615

the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > appetite > [adjective] > having (good) appetite > having appetite for specific kind of food

sweet-mouthed1542

sweeta1616

sweet-toothed1615

sugary1664

1615 G. Markham Eng. House-wife (1668) ii. ii. 51 She must not be butter-fingred, sweet-toothed, nor faint-hearted.

1682 G. Wheler Journey into Greece ii. 203 The Turks are very sweet-tooth'd and love all Kind of sweet Meats.

1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. at Slaik Our use of the word seems indeed to have been borrowed from the nasty habits of sweet-toothed cooks.

1975 Times 31 May 7/2 The puddings, often a weakness in French restaurants from a sweet-toothed British customer's point of view.

Draft additions December 2006

sweet bursaria n. a prickly Australian shrub, Bursaria spinosa (family Pittosporaceae), which has dense clusters of small, sweet-scented white flowers.

ΚΠ

1914 E. E. Pescott Native Flowers Victoria 33 ‘Sweet Bursaria’..is called in many localities the ‘Christmas Bush’.

1967 N. A. Wakefield Naturalist's Diary 32 Sweet Bursaria (Bursaria spinosa) was in full bloom with its dense pyramids of small white flowers.

2005 Weekly Times (Australia) (Nexis) 16 Feb. 37 Sweet bursaria is very prickly and has often been removed on farming land but it..may help keep cockchafers at bay.

Draft additions September 2008

sweet roll n. North American any of various types of sweet-tasting bread or pastry products, esp. a glazed or filled bun eaten for breakfast.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > bread > loaf > [noun] > other types of loaf

white loafeOE

barley loafc950

French loafc1350

pease loafc1390

penny loaf1418

jannock?a1500

household loaf1565

boon-loaf1679

farmhouse loaf1795

cottage loaf1829

potato loaf1831

sod1836

Coburg1843

sweet roll1851

stale1874

Hovis1890

Sally Lunn1901

bloomer loaf1937

wholemeal1957

baguette1958

1851 E. S. Wortley Trav. in U.S. II. v. 99 The jetty-locked Victoriana brings it in the morning for desayuno, with a most excellent sweet roll (an improvement on an English bun).

1948 Home Econ. Jrnl. Feb. 78/2 I chose menu 3 because a scrambled egg and bacon can do more for the body than a sweet roll and jelly.

2002 Backwoods Home Mag. Nov. 57/3 Use either biscuit dough or half-time spoon roll dough (with a little extra flour added so you can knead it) and make cinnamon sweet rolls or sticky buns.

Draft additions January 2009

sweet vermouth n. sweetened vermouth; cf. dry vermouth n. at dry adj. and adv. Additions, Italian vermouth n. at Italian adj. and n. Special uses 1.

ΚΠ

1929 Portsmouth (New Hampsh.) Herald 20 Dec. 16/4 (advt.) Italian Dry and Sweet Vermouth at Payne's.

2002 A. Phillips Prague iv. i. 290 A few drinks and a couple of dances later, immediately after she had crunched and swallowed an ice cube coated with the last remnants of her sweet vermouth, they were kissing.

Draft additions March 2014

the sweet science: †(a) music, esp. regarded as technical skill which gives pleasure or enjoyment (cf. science n. 3a) (obsolete); (b) slang (also with capital initials) the sport of boxing, esp. regarded as a discipline requiring trained skill (cf. noble art n. at noble adj. and n.¹ Compounds 2, noble science n. 2b). [In sense Additions (b), apparently after the following use, later popularized by U.S. journalist A. J. Liebling (compare quot. 1956):

1824 P. Egan Boxiana IV. 53 Sweet Science of Bruising! how often has man, Twice as strong as his fellow, presumed just to lark it.

]

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > boxing > [noun]

defence1549

pugilation1656

fencing1692

boxing1693

the (noble, also manly) art of self-defence1724

noble art1749

bruising1750

ring1770

noble science1778

pugilism1788

sparring1797

the sweet science1810

the fancy1820

pugilistics1820

pugnastics1830

fista1839

scrapping1891

ring-work1899

no contest1922

1810 Daughter II. xii. 171 Their musical parties were again renewed, as Lady Lionel was an enthusiast in the sweet science.

1874 Freeman's Jrnl. (Dublin) 20 Nov. 2/2 It does not follow because these and others cannot appreciate some features of the ‘sweet science’ in its later developments that they merit the sweeping imputation expressed by Lorenzo in the Merchant of Venice.

1895 G. M. Fenn Queen's Scarlet iii. 16 There were other signs about of the occupant's love of the sweet science; for there were a tuning-fork, a pitch-pipe, and a metronome on the chimney-piece.

1913 Times Lit. Supp. 20 Nov. 547/1 The ‘Sweet Science’... Mr. Lynch, a former captain of the Oxford University Boxing Club.., has written a treatise on the modern equivalent of ‘the sweet science of bruising’.

1913 Manitoba Free Press 27 Dec. (Literary section) 1/2 Being bullied by two strange boys, he tried to fight them—but without success, the two knowing too well some tricks of the ‘sweet science’.

1956 A. J. Liebling Sweet Sci. 11 When I came back from the war in 1945 I wasn't ready to write about the Sweet Science, although I continued to see fights.

2004 R. B. Parker Double Play (2005) iv. 30 There's fighting..and there's boxing. You could beat both these guys up in some alley someplace... But, you got no future in the sweet science.

Draft additions June 2018

sweet shrub n. chiefly U.S. any of various deciduous shrubs of the genus Calycanthus, the flowers of which have a sweet, spicy scent; cf. Calycanthus n.

ΚΠ

?1762 T. Lamboll Let. in J. Bartram Corr. (1992) 575 I send..what Shrubs could be got ready, vizt: Sweet Shrub; two Sorts Pink-Root (of wch the narrow leaf is the right Sort for Worms).

1863 Gardener's Monthly Feb. 34/1 The Sweet Shrub or Virginia Calycanthus, is one of the sweetest of all flowering shrubs; though its color is dull.

1925 Amer. Jrnl. Nursing 25 661/1 Soft bright green leaves are bursting and the air is heavy with the perfume of wild honeysuckles and sweet shrubs.

2011 W. C. Welch & G. Grant Heirloom Gardening 167 Calycanthus floridus. Sweet Shrub, Carolina Allspice, Strawberry Shrub, Sweet Bubby.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1919; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	sweet
释义	sweetn. Brit. /swiːt/, U.S. /swit/ Forms: see next. Etymology: sweet adj. used substantively. 1. a. That which is sweet to the taste; something having a sweet taste. Chiefly poetic. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sweetness > [noun] > sweet thing sweetnessc725 sweeta1300 nectary1598 ambrosia1605 a1300 Cursor Mundi 23979 He dranc þe sure and i þe suete. 1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 82 Fulofte and thus the swete soureth, Whan it is knowe to the tast. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 7126 Of þe etand þe mete vt sprang, And þe suete vte o þe strang. 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. iii. sig. C5^v A dram of sweete is worth a pound of sowre. 1611 Bible (King James) 1 Esdras ix. 51 Goe then and eate the fat, and drinke the sweet . View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) iii. i. 160 Let them not licke The sweet which is their poyson. View more context for this quotation 1782 W. Cowper Conversation in Poems 234 The mind..Visiting ev'ry flow'r with labour meet, And gathering all her treasures sweet by sweet. b. A sweet food or drink. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > drink > types or qualities of beverage > [noun] > sweet drink sweetc1540 propomate1657 mead1667 the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > confections or sweetmeats > [noun] confection1393 sweetmeat?a1500 junkery1509 conceit1525 banqueta1533 junketry1599 sweet1660 spice1674 knick-knack1682 confectionery1769 confiture1802 candy?1809 knick-knackery1813 mithai1824 dulce1834 sweet-stuff1835 bouchées1846 ket1979 c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 13683 Fortune..Lurkis in lightly with lustis in hert, Gers hym swolow a swete, þat swellis hym after. 1660 F. Brooke tr. V. Le Blanc World Surveyed 22 The Nobility of the Country affect much to eat Ambar, Musk, and other sweets. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 131 Such Rage of Honey in their Bosom beats: And such a Zeal they have for flow'ry Sweets . View more context for this quotation 1743 P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Odes II. iv. xii. 22 Bring the glad merchandise, with sweets replete. 1802 Eng. Encycl. V. 610/2 The purer sweets, as sugar... The unctuous and mucilaginous sweets, as the impure sugars, liquorice, &c. 1859 F. Nightingale Notes on Nursing vii. 41 I have never known a person take to sweets when he was ill who disliked them when he was well. 1887 R. Jefferies Amaryllis at Fair iii If there were two courses, then bread between to prepare the palate, and to prevent the sweets from quarrelling with the acids. c. plural. Syrup added to wine or other liquor to sweeten and improve its flavour; hence, wine or other liquor thus sweetened; applied spec. to British wines and cordials. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > other alcoholic drinks > [noun] > others stitch-broth1635 Cherellya1640 rug1653 steel-nose1654 pope's-milka1661 Northdown1670 purl royal1675 sweetsa1679 forty-ninea1713 huggle-my-buff1756 slug1756 gunpowder1765 guarapo1772 peachy1781 all nations1785 anti-fogmatic1789 soma1827 ava1831 native1832 tap1832 stone fence1844 slap-bang1845 Angostura1856 jake1910 tepache1926 pruno1936 muratina1968 makkoli1970 alcopop1996 the world > food and drink > drink > manufacture of alcoholic drink > wine-making > [noun] > treatment or adulteration > substances parel1594 yeso1619 sweetsa1679 Harry1699 forcing?1734 geropiga1852 liqueur1872 gum1888 a1679 J. Moore Englands Interest (1703) 33 The best way to Order your Sugar before you put it into your Cyder, is to make it into a kind of Syrup or Sweets. 1696 Act 7 & 8 Will. III c. 30 §6 Mixed Liquors commonly called and known by the Name of Sweets, made from foreign or English Materials. 1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Sweets, the Dreggs of Sugar used by Vintners, to allay the undue fermenting or fretting of their Wine. 1765 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. I. i. viii. 320 All artificial wines, commonly called sweets. 1842 Penny Mag. 29 Oct. 431/1 Mark Beaufoy..entered his name at the Excise as a ‘maker of sweets’ about a century ago. 1845 G. Dodd Brit. Manuf. 5th Ser. 98 At first the name of ‘sweets’ was confined principally to the varieties of raisin-wine. 1889 Act 52 & 53 Vict. c. 42 §28 The expression ‘sweets or made wines’ shall mean any liquor which is made from fruit and sugar..and which has undergone a process of fermentation. d. spec. A sweet dish (a pudding, tart, cooked fruit, etc.), or one of several such, forming a separate course at a meal. Usually plural in early use. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > [noun] > dish > sweet dish dessert1789 entremet1824 sweet1832 pudding1934 the world > food and drink > food > meal > course > [noun] > course after main after-mess1489 banquet1523 after-course1580 fruit1587 dessert1600 sweet1832 confectionery1847 afters1909 pudding1934 follows1946 1832 F. Trollope Domest. Manners Amer. (ed. 2) II. xxviii. 99 They are ‘extravagantly fond’,..of puddings, pies, and all kinds of ‘sweets’. 1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 1st Ser. II. 312 The sweets [on the table] shook and trembled till it was quite impossible to help them. 1852 W. M. Thackeray Henry Esmond II. xv. 312 By the time the soup came he fancied they must have been hours at table: and as for the sweets and jellies he thought they never would be done. a1864 N. Hawthorne Dr. Grimshawe (1891) xix. 246 And entremets, and ‘sweets’, as the English call them. 1890 R. C. Lehmann Harry Fludyer 41 There was a delicious sweet for luncheon... It was like a sort of bird's-nest in spun barley-sugar with whipped cream eggs inside. 1954 J. Betjeman Few Late Chrysanthemums 95 I know what I wanted to ask you—Is trifle sufficient for sweet? 1968 New Society 22 Aug. 266/2 Another course of a meal is called ‘sweet’ by the non-U... The U word for the course is pudding. 1979 J. Cooper Class xii. 202 Everything from lemon water ice to jam roly-poly pudding, Caroline would call ‘pudding’. She would never say ‘sweet’ or ‘dessert’. e. A sweetmeat, esp. in lozenge or ‘drop’ form.sweetie n. is earlier in this sense. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > confections or sweetmeats > sweets > [noun] > a sweet dredgec1350 confection1393 sugar-meat1586 trinket1587 confectionary1599 soot-meat1614 dulcid1694 sweetie1721 goody-goody1745 bon-bon1796 confiture1802 candy?1809 sweetmeat1812 sucker1823 dulce1834 lokum1845 goody1847 sweet1851 dragée1853 lolly1854 1851 H. Mayhew London Labour I. 203/2 Rose acid, which is a ‘transparent’ sweet. 1864 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend (1865) I. i. v. 33 The basket supplied the few small lots of fruit and sweets that he offered for sale. 1877 R. J. More Under Balkans xv. 216 Sweets, jelly, and water were then handed round by the bridesmaids to the assembled guests. f. plural. Drugs, esp. amphetamines. U.S. slang. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > an intoxicating drug > [noun] > stimulant drug(s) sweets1961 high1962 uppie1966 upper1968 1961 R. Russell Sound (1962) ii. ix. 158 He was holding, just as Red had said. Santa had the sweets. 1979 S. Smith Survivor xxi. 221 A whole load of minor drugs, mostly amphetamines—known as ‘sweets’, ‘blues’ and ‘black bombers’. 2. Sweetness of taste; sweet taste. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sweetness > [noun] sweetnessc897 honey1340 sweetc1381 suavityc1450 dulcetness1528 dulcitude1605 honeyedness1611 sweetinga1626 nectareousness1847 saccharinity1868 c1381 G. Chaucer Parl. Foules 161 For thu of loue hast lost thi tast, y gesse As seek man hath of swete & bitternesse. 1705 R. Beverley Hist. Virginia ii. iv. 15 Their [sc. mulberries'] Taste..being of a faintish Sweet, without any Tartness. 1887 G. T. Ladd Physiol. Psychol. ii. iii. §13. 313 It seems tolerably well established that sweet and sour are tasted chiefly with the tip of the tongue. 3. a. That which is pleasant to the mind or feelings; something that affords enjoyment or gratifies desire; (a) pleasure, (a) delight; the pleasant part of something. In later use chiefly in plural, the pleasures or delights of something.Often opposed to bitter, sour, and in expressions retaining literal phraseology, e.g. to taste or suck the sweet(s) of. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > pleasure > [noun] lustc888 lustfulnessa900 queemnesseOE mirtheOE estec1000 winOE queemc1175 sweetness?c1225 solace1297 dutea1300 lustinga1300 joyingc1300 jollityc1330 lustiheadc1369 lustinessc1374 sweet1377 voluptyc1380 well-pleasinga1382 pleasancec1385 pleasurea1393 volupta1398 easementc1400 pleasingc1400 complacencec1436 pleasec1475 satisfaction1477 likancea1500 oblectation1508 beauty1523 aggradation1533 pleasurancec1540 joc1560 likement1577 contentment1587 beloving1589 gratification1598 savouriness1599 entertain1601 pleasedness1626 well-apaidness1633 well-pleasedness1633 pleasingness1649 complacency1652 adlubescence1656 enjoyment1665 volupe1669 musica1674 pleasantry1740 barrel of fun (laughs, etc.)1915 the mind > emotion > pleasure > quality of being pleasant or pleasurable > [noun] > source of pleasure honeycombOE sweetness?c1225 dainty1340 sweet1377 delicec1390 lust1390 pleasancec1390 pleasingc1390 well-queema1400 well-queemnessa1400 douceurc1400 delectation?a1425 pleasure1443 pleaserc1447 delectabilitiesa1500 deliciositiesa1500 honeydew1559 delicacy1586 fancy1590 sugar candy1591 regalo1622 happiness1637 deliciousness1651 complacence1667 regalea1677 sweetener1741 bon-bon1856 Bones1869 jam1871 true love1893 nuts1910 barrel of fun (laughs, etc.)1915 G-spot1983 the mind > emotion > pleasure > quality of being pleasant or pleasurable > [noun] > pleasures lustsc1000 sweet1377 voluptyc1380 delicies1534 singular. 1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xi. 250 Al though it be soure to suffre þere cometh swete [C. xiii. 143 a swete] after. 1423 Kingis Quair clxxxii Euery wicht his awin suete or sore Has maist In mynde. c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 106 He had leuere lesyn thre massys þan to forgo oo slepe or o sweet in þe morwenyng. 1553 T. Wilson Arte Rhetorique (1580) 31 Where the sweete hath his sower ioyned with hym. 1578 J. Rolland Seuin Seages 70 He..had slokinnit of bedsolace the sweit. 1589 T. Cooper Admon. People of Eng. 178 Princes..which suck the sweete from the people of God. a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) iv. iii. 3 When Daffadils begin to peere,..Why then comes in the sweet o'the yeere. View more context for this quotation 1637 T. Heywood Pleasant Dial. in Wks. (1874) VI. 302 Who can know the sweet of ease, That never was in paine? 1697 W. Dampier New Voy. around World iii. 64 Our Jamaica-men Trade thither indeed, and find the sweet of it. 1725 A. Pope tr. Homer Odyssey II. v. 152 Love, the only sweet of life. 1878 R. Browning La Saisiaz 310 Must..Every sweet warn ‘'Ware my bitter!’ plural.1583 B. Melbancke Philotimus (new ed.) sig. Ciii Alwayes shun such bitter sweets.1590 T. Lodge Rosalynde (1592) G iij Of all soft sweets, I like my mistris brest.1607 T. Middleton Revengers Trag. iv. sig. G An incredible Act..Twixt my Step-mother and the Bastard, oh, Incestuous sweetes betweene 'em.a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) i. i. 28 To sucke the sweets of sweete Philosophie. View more context for this quotation1694 E. Phillips tr. J. Milton Lett. of State 102 Your Lordships..who..enjoy the sweets of Peace both at home and abroad.1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis xi, in tr. Virgil Wks. 550 The Gods have envy'd me the sweets of Life.1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones I. iii. vi. 191 Surfeited with the Sweets of Marriage, or disgusted by its Bitters. View more context for this quotation1826 F. Reynolds Life & Times II. 436 Being now compelled daily, to taste more and more of the sweets of management.1858 R. S. Surtees Ask Mamma xlv. 200 Mr. Bankhead, knowing the sweets of office, again aspired to high places.1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. I. x. 164 The run..up to town to..taste some of the sweets of the season. b. Contrasted with sweat. ΚΠ 1588 T. Kyd tr. T. Tasso Housholders Philos. sig. 2^v Gaine purchased with sweat or sweete. 1607 S. Hieron Spirituall Tillage* in Wks. (1620) I. 397 We haue heard hitherto of the sweat, now let vs heare the sweet of religion. 1610 J. Mason Turke v. i Ere we had relisht the sweete of her sweete [sic], that is the fruit of her labors. 1668 J. Flavell Saint Indeed 186 He that will not have the sweat, must not expect the sweet of Religion. 1670 J. Ray Coll. Eng. Prov. 146 No sweet without some sweat. 4. A beloved person, darling, sweetheart. (Cf. sweet adj. 8c)In Middle English verse that swete is frequently used conventionally. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > loved one > [noun] darlingc888 the apple of a person's eyeeOE lief971 light of one's eye(s)OE lovedOE my lifelOE lovec1225 druta1240 chere1297 sweetc1330 popelotc1390 likinga1393 oninga1400 onlepya1400 belovedc1430 well-beloved1447 heart-rootc1460 deara1500 delicate1531 belove1534 leefkyn1540 one and only1551 fondling1580 dearing1601 precious1602 loveling1606 dotey1663 lovee1753 passion1783 mavourneen1800 dote1809 treasure1844 seraph1853 sloe1884 darlint1888 asthore1894 darl1930 the mind > emotion > love > terms of endearment > [noun] darlingc888 belamy?c1225 culver?c1225 dearc1230 sweetheartc1290 heartc1300 sweetc1330 honeya1375 dovec1386 jewelc1400 birdc1405 cinnamonc1405 honeycombc1405 lovec1405 wantonc1450 mulling?a1475 daisyc1485 crowdy-mowdy?a1513 honeysop?a1513 powsowdie?a1513 suckler?a1513 foolc1525 buttinga1529 whitinga1529 beautiful1534 turtle-dove1535 soula1538 heartikin1540 bully?1548 turtle1548 lamba1556 nyletc1557 sweet-lovea1560 coz1563 ding-ding1564 pugs1566 golpol1568 sparling1570 lover1573 pug1580 bulkin1582 mopsy1582 chuck1589 bonny1594 chick1594 sweetikin1596 ladybird1597 angel1598 muss1598 pinkany1599 sweetkin1599 duck1600 joy1600 sparrowc1600 sucket1605 nutting1606 chuckaby1607 tickling1607 bagpudding1608 heartling1608 chucking1609 dainty1611 flittermouse1612 honeysuckle1613 fubs1614 bawcocka1616 pretty1616 old thinga1625 bun1627 duckling1630 bulchin1633 bulch?c1640 sweetling1648 friscoa1652 ding-dongs1662 buntinga1668 cocky1680 dearie1681 chucky1683 lovey1684 machree1689 nykin1693 pinkaninny1696 nug1699 hinny1724 puss1753 pet1767 dovey1769 sweetie1778 lovey-dovey1781 lovely1791 ducky1819 toy1822 acushla1825 alanna1825 treat1825 amigo1830 honey child1832 macushla1834 cabbage1840 honey-bunch1874 angel pie1878 m'dear1887 bach1889 honey baby1895 prawn1895 hon1896 so-and-so1897 cariad1899 pumpkin1900 honey-bun1902 pussums1912 snookums1919 treasure1920 wogger1922 amico1929 sugar1930 baby cake1949 angel cake1951 lamb-chop1962 petal1974 bae2006 c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) l. 4578 No y no loued non bot þat swete. c1369 G. Chaucer Bk. Duchesse 832 Hyt was my swete ryght al hir selve. a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Cock & Fox l. 445 in Poems (1981) 21 At his end I did my besie curis To hald his heid..Syne at the last, the sweit swelt in my arme. c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 10567 Myche sorow hade his Syre the sun to behold, And oft swonyt that swete, & in swyme felle. 1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet iii. iii. 161 Bidde my sweet prepare to childe. 1640 tr. G. S. du Verdier Love & Armes Greeke Princes iii. 66 Among the which [gentle~women] perceiving my Claristea (so is this inexorable sweet named) to be one. 1664 S. Butler Hudibras: Second Pt. ii. i. 29 This made the beauteous Queen of Crete To take a Town-Bull for her Sweet. 1703 tr. A. de Courtin Rules Civility (rev. ed.) 25 As, for a Governor, speaking of his Wife, to say,..My Sweet is the most prudent. 1855 Ld. Tennyson Maud xxi. xi, in Maud & Other Poems 71 She is coming, my own, my sweet. 1868 W. Morris Earthly Paradise i. 289 What feat do ye This eve in honour of my sweet and me? 5. a. A sweet sound. poetic. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > pleasantness of sound > [noun] > a pleasant sound noisec1390 sweetnessc1540 sweet1590 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. xii. sig. M4^v Yett wist no creature, whence that heuenly sweet Proceeded. b. plural. A woman's breasts. poetic. ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > external parts of body > trunk > front > breast or breasts (of woman) > [noun] titOE breastOE mammaOE pysea1400 mamellec1450 dug1530 duckya1533 bag1579 pommela1586 mam1611 Milky Way1622 bubby?1660 udder1702 globea1727 fore-buttock1727 tetty1746 breastwork?1760 diddy1788 snows1803 sweets1817 titty1865 pappy1869 Charleys1874 bub1881 breastiec1900 ninny1909 pair1919 boobs1932 boobya1934 fun bag1938 maraca1940 knockers1941 can1946 mammaries1947 bazooms1955 jug1957 melon1957 bosoms1959 Bristols1961 chichi1961 nork1962 puppies1963 rack1968 knob1970 dingleberry1980 jubblies1991 1817 J. Keats Poems 49 Ah! who can e'er forget so fair a being? Who can forget her half retiring sweets? 1870 D. G. Rossetti Poems (ed. 2) 111 Your silk ungirdled and unlac'd And warm sweets open to the waist. 6. Sweetness of smell, fragrance; plural sweet odours, scents, or perfumes. poetic. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > fragrance > [noun] > fragrant quality sweetnessc900 sootnessc1000 redolence1447 suavityc1450 fragrancy1578 sweet1594 odoriferousness1599 fragrantness1600 muskiness1727 aromaticness1731 balsamicness1737 lightness1799 1594 M. Drayton Ideas Mirrour xxv. sig. E Some muz'd to see the earth enuy the ayre, Which from her lyps exhald refined sweet. 1609 W. Shakespeare Sonnets xcix. sig. G^v More flowers I noted, yet I none could see, But sweet, or culler it had stolne from thee. View more context for this quotation 1612 J. Webster White Divel ii. i. 165 The naturall sweetes Of the Spring-violet. a1718 M. Prior 2nd Hymn Callimachus 50 Perfumes distill their Sweets. 1785 W. Cowper Task i. 444 He..riots in the sweets of ev'ry breeze. 1820 P. B. Shelley To Skylark in Prometheus Unbound 204 The scent it gives Makes faint with too much sweet these heavy-winged thieves. 1821 J. Clare Village Minstrel II. 81 Perfuming evening with a luscious sweet. 7. plural. Substances having a sweet smell; fragrant flowers or herbs; †scents, perfumes. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > fragrance > [noun] > fragrant substance or perfume pimentc1300 odoramentc1384 savouringc1384 odoura1425 aromatica1513 smella1533 fume1541 perfume1542 sweet-water?1543 scent1596 pomander1600 sweets1603 bisse1608 sweet-ball1617 plash1649 suffition1656 essence1661 odoratea1682 otto1822 aroma1830 nosegay1855 foo-foo1880 1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet v. i. 239 Sweetes to the sweete. 1639–40 in H. J. F. Swayne Churchwardens' Accts. Sarum (1896) 320 Sweetes to burne in the Church at Chrismass. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost v. 294 Through Groves of Myrrhe, And flouring Odours..; A Wilderness of sweets . View more context for this quotation 1691 London Gaz. No. 2641/4 The Bottle of Sweets [viz. perfume]. 1785 W. Cowper Task ii. 257 Strew the deck With lavender, and sprinkle liquid sweets. 1837 H. Martineau Society in Amer. II. 63 The rich carnations and other sweets that bloomed in the garden. Compounds C1. General attributive. a. (Chiefly in sense 1e.) sweet-box n. sweet coupon n. ΚΠ 1943 N. Last Diary 25 Dec. in Nella Last's War (1983) 270 Not a flower, a card—or a sweet, although you had the sweet coupons in your pocket. 1974 G. Markstein Cooler xlvi. 164 Grace spent all the sweet coupons he had left on buying a bar of chocolate. sweet-maker n. ΚΠ 1896 Westm. Gaz. 18 Mar. 8/2 A Hoxton sugar-boiler and sweet-maker. sweet-making n. ΚΠ ?1734 P. Shaw Chem. Lect. xi. sig. [M]4 The Art of Sweet-Making might receive a high Degree of Improvement, by using pure Sugar as one general wholesome Sweet, instead of those infinite Mixtures of Honey, Raisins, Syrups, Treacle, Stum, Cyder, &c. wherewith the Sweet-makers supply the Wine-Coopers. sweet paper n. ΚΠ 1964 Guardian 1 Feb. 8/3 An occasional sweetpaper flutters striped among the bushes. 1979 M. Ingate Tomb of Flowers xxi. 153 A few sweet papers, and one or two bottles. sweet ration n. ΚΠ 1944 Ourselves in Wartime vii. 154/2 More often than not, they forfeited their personal sweet ration, which amounted to 3 ozs. of sweets or chocolate a week in 1943, for the sake of the children. 1978 E. Malpass Wind brings up Rain i. 11 She tried to take back the toffee—she needed her sweet ration. sweet rationing n. ΚΠ 1942 Times 24 July 2/6 As a prelude to the introduction of chocolate and sweet rationing..there is heavy selling at some retail shops. sweet-shop n. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > trading place > place where retail transactions made > [noun] > shop > shop selling provisions > other provision shops spicery1297 coffee shop1663 oil-shop1679 tea-shopa1745 sweet-shop1879 farm shop1924 1879 E. K. Bates Egyptian Bonds II. vi. 166 The sweet-shops, with their sugary wares. sweet-stall n. ΚΠ 1882 East. Daily Press 17 July 3 All day long the sweet stalls..were besieged by battalions of the common honey bee. sweet-standing n. ΚΠ 1902 ‘Q’ White Wolf 91 He had bought a packet off one of the sweet-standings. b. (In sense 1d.) sweet course n. ΚΠ 1892 Girl's Own Paper 23 Apr. 476/2 The sweet course can also be arranged for by having some stewed fruit..with a mould of rice or cornflour. 1981 P. Van Greenaway ‘Cassandra’ Bell vii. 83 The evening meal..lasted ten minutes... Cherry stabbed a fork at his once or twice, derided the sweet course, and went. C2. sweet trolley n. a dining trolley from which a choice of cold sweet dishes may be offered in a restaurant. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > serving food > [noun] > utensils for serving > tea-trolley > sweet trolley sweet trolley1963 1963 P.M.L.A. Dec. p. vii/2 [U.K.] sweet trolley: [U.S.] dessert cart. 1964 L. Deighton Funeral in Berlin xv. 93 The steak was O.K. and I was strong-willed enough not to hit the sweet-trolley too hard. 1981 Radio Times 19 Sept. 21/1 It's irritating being pointed at in a restaurant, like a sweet trolley. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1919; most recently modified version published online March 2022). sweetadj.adv. Brit. /swiːt/, U.S. /swit/ Forms: Old English swoete, Northumbrian suoet, suet, Old English–1500s swete, Middle English–1500s swet, Middle English–1500s suete, Middle English suet, Scottish sweyt, Middle English–1700s Scottish sweit, Middle English–1600s sweete, (Middle English sweote, Middle English swiete, Middle English suette, swett, squete, sweyte, Kent. zuete, Middle English swette, sqwete, swyte, 1500s Scottish sweitt, sueit, 1600s suiet, 1700s Scottish suit), 1500s– sweet. comparative Old English swet(t)ra, Middle English swettere, (Old English swoetra, Middle English swettre, swetture, Middle English swettore, swettour, Middle English swettir, swettur; Middle English squetter, suetter), Middle English swetter; Middle English swetere, Scottish swetare, 1500s Scottish swetar, suetar, Middle English– sweeter. superlative Old English–Middle English swetest, Middle English sweteste, Middle English swetist, Middle English– sweetest; also Middle English swetteste, Middle English swettest, Middle English swettist. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Common Germanic: Old English swéte , = Old Frisian swêt , Old Saxon swôti , Middle Low German sote , sute , (Low German söte , söt ), Middle Dutch soete , suete (Dutch zoet ), Old High German suoȥi, swuoȥi (Middle High German sueȥe , German süss ), Old Norse sœ́tr (Swedish söt , Danish sød ) < Germanic swōtja- , swōti- , < swōt- (whence Old English swóte soot adv.) < Indo-European swād- (with variant swăd-), in Sanskrit svādús sweet, svádati to be sweet, Greek ἡδύς sweet, ἥδεσθαι to rejoice, ἡδονή pleasure, ἁνδάνειν (ἕαδον, ἕαδα) to please, Latin suāvis ( < swādwis) sweet, suādēre* to advise (properly, to make something pleasant to). Gothic shows another grade of the root in sūts. A. adj. 1. a. Pleasing to the sense of taste; having a pleasant taste or flavour; spec. having the characteristic flavour (ordinarily pleasant when not in excess) of sugar, honey, and many ripe fruits, which corresponds to one of the primary sensations of taste. Also said of the taste or flavour. Often opposed to bitter or sour (so also in figurative senses).See also special collocations in C. 1. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sweetness > [adjective] sweetc888 sootc950 doucea1350 sweetlya1350 softa1398 lusciousc1420 dulcet1440 mellite?1440 sugarishc1450 dulce1508 ambrosiana1522 figgy?1549 nut-sweet1586 nectaredc1595 dulcid1596 marmalady1602 fat1610 unsharp1611 unsour1611 marmalade1617 dulcorous1676 dulceous1688 saccharaceous1689 sugar-candyish1852 saccharic1945 c888 Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. xxxix. §9 Þæt is forhwi se gooda læce selle þam halum men seftne drenc & swetne. OE Phoenix 193 Þonne feor ond neah þa swetestan somnað ond gædrað wyrta wynsume ond wudubleda to þam eardstede. c1250 Death 106 in Old Eng. Misc. Hwer beoð þine dihsches Midd þine swete sonde? 1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 1398 Delytable, & swete of sauoure. 1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xii. 264 Þe larke..is..swifter þan þe pecok, And of flesch,..fatter and swetter. 1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xix. 60 Somme [apples] ar swettere þan some and sonnere wollen rotye. c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 67 Hony is swettist to him of alle othere metis. ?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xiiii The yonger and the grener that the grasse is the softer and the sweter it wyl be. 1574 T. Newton tr. G. Gratarolo Direct. Health Magistrates & Studentes I j b The fleash that is about the bones is sweeter and better to digest then other. 1594 C. Marlowe & T. Nashe Dido ii. i Ile giue thee Sugar-almonds, sweete Conserues. 1596 Raigne of Edward III sig. D1^v A sugred sweet, and most delitious tast. View more context for this quotation 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost v. 68 O Fruit Divine, Sweet of thy self, but much more sweet thus cropt. View more context for this quotation 1765 Museum Rusticum 4 398 Fine-flavoured, mellow, sweet beef from beasts fed with oil-cakes. 1819 W. Scott Bride of Lammermoor x, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. I. 279 A tart—a flam—and some nonsense sweet things, and comfits. 1827 M. Faraday Chem. Manip. xxiv. 620 The liquid will communicate a very aromatic sweet taste to it. 1882 R. Bentley Man. Bot. (ed. 4) iii. ii. 823 Secondary products of metastasis, some of which, as sweet secretions, &c., are necessary for the perpetuation of the species. 1883 Cassell's Dict. Cookery 772/1 Rose Sauce for Sweet Puddings. b. In similative and other proverbial phr. ΚΠ c825 Vesp. Ps. xviii. 11 [xix. 10] Dulciora super mel & favum, swoetran ofer hunig & biobræd. a1400–50 Wars Alex. 3855 Was neuir na hony in na hyue vndire heuen swettir. c1403 J. Lydgate Temple Glas 1251 Swete is swettir eftir bitternes. 14.. Lat. & Eng. Prov. (Douce 52) lf. 16 b Hungur makyth harde bonys swete. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Miller's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 20 He hym self as sweete as is the roote Of Lycorys. 1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue i. viii. sig. C Swete meate wil haue sowre sauce. a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) i. iii. sig. B.ij^v Soft fire maketh sweete malte, good Madge. 1607 S. Hieron Christians Iournall in Wks. (1620) I. 20 The sweet meats of wickednes will haue the sowre sauce of wretchednes and misery. a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) iii. ii. 107 Sweetest nut, hath sowrest rinde. View more context for this quotation 1671 T. Hunt Abecedarium Scholasticum 79 The sweetest flesh is next the bone. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Pastorals vii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 32 Fair Galathea, with thy silver Feet, O, whiter than the Swan, and more than Hybla sweet. 1721 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. (at cited word) After sweet Meat comes sowr Sauce. 1898 W. W. Jacobs Choice Spirits in Sea Urchins (1906) 90 ‘The meat's awful.’ ‘It's as sweet as nuts,’ said the skipper. 2. a. Pleasing to the sense of smell; having a pleasant smell or odour; fragrant. Also said of the smell or odour. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > fragrance > [adjective] sweet900 sootc950 aromatic1366 merrya1398 well-smellinga1398 sweet-smellingc1400 lusciousc1420 savoury?a1425 redolingc1429 redolent?a1439 odorate?1440 flagrant1450 redolentc1450 well-savouringc1450 aromatous1483 softa1500 well-aired1505 balmy1508 ambrosiana1522 embalmeda1529 fragrantc1530 perfumed1538 scented?c1562 scented1567 balm-like1569 sweet1573 aromatizate1576 aromatical1578 Sabaeana1586 ambrosial1590 rich1590 perfumed1591 sweet-scented1591 reperfumed1593 balm-breathing1595 nectaredc1595 spiced1600 fuming1601 fumed1612 scentful1612 balsam1624 perfumy1625 odoraminous1656 aroma-olent1657 suaveolent1657 aromatized1661 essenced1675 balsamy1687 flavorous1697 balsamic1714 well-scented1726 scenty1738 breathing1757 spicy1765 flavouriferous1773 aromal1848 bescented1863 euodic1868 nosy1892 900 tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (1890) iii. viii. 174 Hordærn..balsami & þara deorwyrðestena wyrta & þara swetestena þara þe in middangearde wæron. 971 Blickl. Hom. 59 Þa swetan stencas gestincað þara wuduwyrta. c1175 Lamb. Hom. 53 Þe sweote smel of þe chese. c1220 Bestiary 508 Vt of his ðrote is smit an onde, Ðe swetteste ðing ðat is o londe. a1272 Lune Ron 151 in Old Eng. Misc. 97 Þu art swetture þane eny flur. a1300 Cursor Mundi 1381 Cipres, be þe suete sauur, Bitakens ur suete [Fairf. squete] sauueur. c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 5 Zephirus..w^t his sweete breeth. c1425 Cast. Persev. 801 in Macro Plays 101 Parkys, poundys, & many pens, Þei semyn to ȝou swetter þanne sens. 1542 A. Borde Compend. Regyment Helth xx. sig. K.i^v Parsley..doth cause a man to haue a swete breth. 1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream ii. i. 252 I know a banke..Quite ouercanopi'd..With sweete muske roses, and with Eglantine. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) Induct. i. 47 Burne sweet Wood to make the Lodging sweete. View more context for this quotation 1650 T. Fuller Pisgah-sight of Palestine iii. 382 Pillasters..of..Almuggin trees..which, if odoriferous,..made that passage as sweet to the smell, as specious to the sight. 1782 W. Cowper Hope in Poems 156 Sweet scent, or lovely form, or both combin'd. 1850 Ld. Tennyson In Memoriam lxxxiv. 124 Sweet after showers, ambrosial air. View more context for this quotation †b. spec. Perfumed, scented. See also sweet-bag n., sweet-ball n., sweet-powder n. at Compounds 1a, sweet-water n. 2a. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > fragrance > [adjective] sweet900 sootc950 aromatic1366 merrya1398 well-smellinga1398 sweet-smellingc1400 lusciousc1420 savoury?a1425 redolingc1429 redolent?a1439 odorate?1440 flagrant1450 redolentc1450 well-savouringc1450 aromatous1483 softa1500 well-aired1505 balmy1508 ambrosiana1522 embalmeda1529 fragrantc1530 perfumed1538 scented?c1562 scented1567 balm-like1569 sweet1573 aromatizate1576 aromatical1578 Sabaeana1586 ambrosial1590 rich1590 perfumed1591 sweet-scented1591 reperfumed1593 balm-breathing1595 nectaredc1595 spiced1600 fuming1601 fumed1612 scentful1612 balsam1624 perfumy1625 odoraminous1656 aroma-olent1657 suaveolent1657 aromatized1661 essenced1675 balsamy1687 flavorous1697 balsamic1714 well-scented1726 scenty1738 breathing1757 spicy1765 flavouriferous1773 aromal1848 bescented1863 euodic1868 nosy1892 1573–4 in A. Feuillerat Documents Office of Revels Queen Elizabeth (1908) 208 Sweete lightes of white wex for the same vii^s. 1592 Acct.-bk. W. Wray in Antiquary (1896) 32 79 A barrell swet sop, xxix s. a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) iv. iv. 249 You promis'd me a tawdry-lace, and a paire of sweet Gloues. View more context for this quotation 1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. Polit. Touch-stone in tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso 407 The Monopoly of making sweet Gloves to that Nation whose hand did stink insufferably. 3. a. Free from offensive or disagreeable taste or smell; not corrupt, putrid, sour, or stale; free from taint or noxious matter; in a sound and wholesome condition. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > [adjective] > of health: good > conducive to health > non-infective sweeta1325 cleanc1384 gnotobiotic1949 a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3302 A funden trew ðor-inne dede Moyses, and it wurð swet on ðe stede. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6352, l. 6354 Þe water was al suete alson, þe water þat sua fuli stanc, Suetter neuer þai siþen drank. 1501 Reg. Privy Seal Scotl. I. 100/1 [3½] lastis of salmond, ful, rede, and swete. 1596 J. Harington New Disc. Aiax sig. E4^v Because hee had not seene better to the keeping sweet of the streets. 1607 T. Dekker & J. Webster West-ward Hoe i. sig. B2^v He hath an excellent trick to keepe Lobsters and Crabs sweet in summer. 1663 Marquis of Worcester Cent. Names & Scantlings Inventions § 100 [They] furnish Cities with Water..as well as keep them Sweet, running through several Streets. 1681 T. Langford Plain Instr. Fruit-trees xv. 139 Cyder Fruit..laid upon a sweet and dry floor, in a heap. 1685 Compl. Servant Maid 144 You must wash your own Linen, keeping your self sweet and clean. 1754 Compl. Cyder-man 114 A sufficient Number of sweet Casks to put it into. 1791 Trans. Soc. Arts 9 p. xvii Preserving Fresh Water sweet, for the use of Seamen during long voyages. 1859 J. M. Jephson & L. Reeve Narr. Walking Tour Brittany v. 55 I question whether the beds would be so clean and sweet. 1861 I. M. Beeton Bk. Househ. Managem. xvii. 380 In choosing a ham, ascertain that it is perfectly sweet. 1883 W. S. Gresley Gloss. Terms Coal Mining Sweet, free from fire-damp or other gases, or from fire-stink. b. spec. Of water: Fresh, not salt. Also of butter: Fresh, not salted. (Cf. German süsswasser, French eau douce, etc.) See also sweet-water n. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > drink > water > [adjective] > fresh freshOE sweetc1000 the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preserving or pickling > [adjective] > preserved with salt > not unbrined1733 sweet1925 c1000 Sax. Leechd. II. 134 Drince wegbrædan seaw on swetum wætre. c1220 Bestiary 320 He lepeð ðanne wið mikel list, Of swet water he haueð ðrist. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 6349 Þei fond..Watir bittur as any bryne As bryne hit was & no swettur. 1481 W. Caxton tr. Myrrour of Worlde xx. 109 Alle watres come of the see; as wel the swete as the salt. 1553 R. Eden tr. S. Münster Treat. Newe India sig. Gj In this deserte are..founde bytter waters: but more often fresshe and sweete waters. 1591 A. W. Bk. Cookrye (rev. ed.) 8 b In the seething pot put in a peece of sweet Butter. 1661 R. Lovell Πανζωορυκτολογια, sive Panzoologicomineralogia Isagoge sig. A7 Living in rivers and other sweet waters. 1709 T. Robinson Ess. Nat. Hist. Westmorland & Cumberland iv. 23 The subterrene Waters are those sweet Mineral Feeders, which do implete the Body of the Earth. 1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) I. 84 Animals which..live alternately on land or in sweet water. 1925 N.Y. Produce Rev. & Amer. Creamery 27 May 95 (advt.) Specializing in sweet butter. 1952 M. Small Special Diet Cook Bk. 201 Grocers..catering to the Jewish trade usually carry sweet butter. 1971 S. Walker Highland Cookbk. 8 Scones are delicious with sweet butter, in Scotland called fresh butter. †c. Of bread (in 16th cent. versions of and allusions to Scripture): Unleavened. (Opposed to sour as in sourdough n.) Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > bread > [adjective] > unleavened tharfc950 tharflingc1050 unbarmedc1175 unlifa1325 sweet1526 unleavened1530 matzo1846 leavenless1852 society > faith > artefacts > consumables > bread > [adjective] > unleavened tharfc950 sweet1526 unleavened1530 azymous1728 1526 Bible (Tyndale) Mark xiv. f. lxvj The fyrst daye of swete breed. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Exod. xxxiv. 18 The feast of swete bred shalt thou kepe. 1593 T. Nashe Christs Teares f. 20 The feast of Tabernacles, the feast of sweet Bread, and the feast of Weekes. d. Of milk: Fresh, not sour: see sweet milk n. at Compounds 1a. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > dairy produce > [adjective] > relating to milk > fresh sweet1812 1812 J. Sinclair Acct. Syst. Husbandry Scotl. i. 105 The milk can be sold sweet, as taken from the cow. e. Old Chemistry and Metallurgy. Free from corrosive salt, sulphur, acid, etc. In modern use also in the Oil Industry, of petroleum or natural gas: free from sulphur compounds, esp. hydrogen sulphide or alkyl mercaptans. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > chemistry > chemical properties > [adjective] > of or relating to miscellaneous other properties sweet1666 nimble1671 watery1741 unvitriolized1757 greedy1758 unneutralized1758 unvitrifiable1758 free1783 fixed1800 nascent1800 inorganic1831 assimilative1837 unnitrogenized1846 inactive1848 kaligenous1854 unacceptant1866 aggressive1888 oligodynamic1893 chromotropic1899 undissociated1899 osmophoric1901 thermochromic1904 unary1923 non-stoichiometric1943 odoriphoric1944 slow-release1946 sonoluminescent1961 uniaxial1965 the world > the earth > minerals > types of mineral > hydrocarbon minerals > [adjective] > coal > other qualities of coal knobbly1839 sweet1863 society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > oil or types of oil > [adjective] sweet1919 society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > mineral material > mineral oil > [adjective] > type of mineral oil sweet1919 multigrade1959 society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > gas or types of gas > [adjective] lean1924 wet1926 liquefied1930 sweet1950 1666 R. Boyle Origine Formes & Qualities ii. iv. 315 Chymists..terme the Calces of Metals and other Bodies dulcifi'd, if they be freed from all corrosive salts and sharpness of Tast, sweet, though they have nothing at all of positive sweetness. 1863 Edinb. Rev. Apr. 411 The ‘sweetest’ kinds of coal (the freest from sulphur) are reserved for the smelting furnace. 1881 Trans. Amer. Inst. Mining Engineers 1880–1 9 169 Good, dead, or sweet roasting is complete roasting, i. e., carried on until sulphurous and arsenious fumes cease to be given off. 1911 Rep. 80th Meeting Brit. Assoc. Advancem. Sci. 1910 612 The Coal Measures include ‘sweet’, i.e., non-sulphurous, coals at several horizons. 1919 E. W. Dean Motor Gasoline Properties (U.S. Bur. Mines Techn. Paper No. 214) 25 If the liquid remains unchanged in color and if the sulphur film is bright yellow or only slightly discolored.., the test shall be reported negative and the gasoline considered ‘sweet’. 1950 Industr. & Engin. Chem. Sept. 1882/2 Several high sulfur gas oils were reduced in sulfur contents to those of gas oils from sweet crudes by hydrodesulfurization..at 750°F., 300 pounds per square inch pressure,..and 1000 cubic feet of hydrogen per barrel of charge. 1975 Offshore Engineer Sept. 44/3 The sweet gas is extracted through wells drilled by a Saipem rig. 1980 Blair & Ketchum's Country Jrnl. Oct. 6/3 Light, so-called ‘sweet’, crude yields a high percentage of automotive gasoline. 4. a. Pleasing to the ear; having or giving a pleasant sound; musical, melodious, harmonious: said of a sound, a voice, an instrument, a singer or performer on an instrument. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > pleasure > quality of being pleasant or pleasurable > [adjective] winsomea900 sweetc900 likingeOE i-quemec950 lieflyOE winlyOE hereOE thankfulc1000 merryOE queemc1175 beina1200 willea1200 leesomec1200 savouryc1225 estea1250 i-wilc1275 winc1275 welcomea1300 doucea1350 well-pleasingc1350 acceptablea1382 pleasablea1382 pleasanta1382 pleaseda1382 acceptedc1384 amiablec1384 well-likinga1387 queemfulc1390 flattering1393 pleasinga1398 well-queeminga1400 comelyc1400 farrandc1400 greable1401 goodlyc1405 amicable?a1425 placablec1429 amene1433 winful1438 listyc1440 dulcet1445 agreeablec1450 favourousc1485 sweetly?a1500 pleasureful?c1502 dulcea1513 grate1523 prettya1529 plausible1541 jolly1549 dulcoratec1550 toothsome1551 pleasurable1557 tickling1558 suavec1560 amenous1567 odoriferous?1575 perfumed1580 glada1586 tickle1593 pleasurous1595 favoursome1601 dulcean1606 gratifying1611 Hyblaean1614 gratulatea1616 arrident1616 solacefula1618 pleasantable1619 placid1628 contentsome1632 sapid1640 canny1643 gustful1647 peramene1657 pergrateful1657 tastefula1659 complacent1660 placentiousa1661 gratifactorya1665 bland1667 suavious1669 palatable1683 placent1683 complaisant1710 nice1747 tasty1796 sweetsome1799 titbit1820 connate1836 cunning1843 mooi1850 gemütlich1852 sympathique1859 congenial1878 sympathetic1900 sipid1908 onkus1910 sympathisch1911 the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > pleasantness of sound > [adjective] sweetc900 merryOE well-soundingc1350 sootc1385 soundedc1450 honeyed1592 well-tuned1592 ear-tickling1605 mellisonanta1635 euphonical1668 euphonious1774 euphonous1805 euphonic1814 euphonistic1837 listenable1920 the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [adjective] > pleasant sweetc900 softc1230 well relesedc1475 chanting1561 satin1635 luting1887 society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > [adjective] > melodious or harmonious sweetc900 merryOE softc1230 accordanta1325 well-soundingc1350 cordant1382 sootc1385 songfula1400 melodiousa1425 sugaredc1430 well-toneda1500 tunable1504 dulcea1513 equivalenta1513 consonant?1521 harmonicala1527 harmoniousc1550 consorteda1586 Orphean1593 concentful1595 melodical1596 sweet-recording1598 tuneful1598 sirenical1599 high-tuned1603 nightingale-like1611 soundful?1615 according1626 modulaminous1637 undiscording1645 canorous1646 symphonious1652 concinnous1654 consonous1654 harmonic1667 sirenica1704 symphonial1773 concentual1782 chantant1785 Memnonian1800 melodized1807 Orphic1817 undiscordant1819 concentuous1850 fluting1852 melodic1871 well-orchestrated1872 jarless1876 tuny1885 tunesome1890 c900 tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (1890) iv. iii. 264 Þa geherde he..þa swetestan stefne & þa fægrestan singendra. a1300 Cursor Mundi 1030 Þar sune es soft and suet sang. ?a1366 Romaunt Rose 768 In loreyn her notes bee Fulle swetter than in this contre. a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xv. 178 A, myghtfull God, Whateuer this ment, So swete of toyn? c1500 Melusine (1895) i. 7 He stood styl..to here her swette & playsaunt voyce. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 278/1 Swetetunyng, modulation. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. ccxiiii^v iiii. Muses plaiyng on seueral swete instrumentes. 1560 Bible (Geneva) 2 Sam. xxiii. 1 Dauid..the swete singer of Israel. 1599 W. Shakespeare et al. Passionate Pilgrime (new ed.) sig. C8 Cleare wels spring not, sweete birds sing not. 1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. i. 161 Like sweet bells iangled out of time, and harsh. View more context for this quotation 1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta Nat. & Morall Hist. Indies vii. iii. 500 Their tongue and pronountiation is very sweete and pleasant. 1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 152 A paire of Organs doth make sweet musicke. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 143 Th' Infernal Troops..list'ning, crowd the sweet Musician's side. View more context for this quotation 1780 W. Cowper Doves 37 Thus sang the sweet sequester'd bird, Soft as the passing wind. 1859 Ld. Tennyson Enid in Idylls of King 18 The sweet voice of a bird. 1878 G. Dubourg Violin (ed. 5) i. 11 The viol instruments were decidedly sweet, but comparatively dull. b. Hence, applied to music, esp. jazz, played at a steady tempo without improvisation, or to this style of playing and its exponents. Cf. hot adj. 12h. Originally and chiefly U.S. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > jazz > [adjective] > types of Chicagoan1861 bad1897 hot1918 red-hot1918 soft1921 low-down1922 sweet1924 barrel-house1926 New Orleans1926 straight1926 crazy1927 dirty1927 hotcha1930 jungle1935 solid1935 traditional jazz1935 powerhouse1937 gutty1939 riffy1939 jivey1944 Kansas City1946 cool1948 West Coast1949 far-out1954 nutty1955 swinging1955 mainstream1957 Afro-Latin1958 1924 Variety 9 July 9/3 The style in vaudeville jazz bands this coming season will tend toward the ‘sweet’ and ‘hot’ dance orchestras. 1927 Melody Maker May 477/1 A really good saxophonist..must be able to render a sweet melody correctly phrased and as though his soul were in it, without a trend to exaggerate sloppy sentiment. 1933 Fortune Aug. 47/1 He is decidedly not a sweet trombonist—he doesn't play sentimentally with lots of vibrato. 1934 S. R. Nelson All about Jazz iii. 66 If it is of the melody type, and without much syncopation, the number is treated in the ‘sweet’ manner. 1956 A. Hodeir Jazz: its Evolution & Essence viii. 129 Both ‘straight’ jazz and ‘sweet’ music..make use of a sonority and a melodic and harmonic language that are exaggeratedly sugar-coated. 1981 Oxf. Times 6 Feb. 13/1 The Dorseys' orchestra at this time was sweet rather than swinging, which will disappoint those like myself who prefer the jazzier side of Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey. 5. Pleasing (in general); yielding pleasure or enjoyment; agreeable, delightful, charming. (Only literary in unemotional use: cf. A. 3e) a. to the mind or feelings. ΚΠ c888 Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. xxxv. §4 Hi..meahton eaðe seggan soðspell, gif him þa leasunga næren swetran. c900 tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (1890) v. xxiii. 482 Me symble swete & wynsum wæs, ðæt ic oþþe leornode oþþe lærde oððe write. c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 33 Ac swo þe wowe þinkeð biter, þe hwile þe he lesteð, swo þincð wele þe swettere þan hit cumeð þarafter. c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 152 Drif as he dude þet swete licunge in to smeortunge. a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 210 Paradis, An erd al ful of swete blis. c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 631 Þe ring was fair to se, Þe ȝift was wel swete. 1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xv. 179 Þough he bere hem no bred, he bereth hem swetter lyflode. c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. Prol. 83 Persones and parisch prestes..askeþ leue..To singe þer for Simonye, for seluer is swete. 1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xxi. 219 He hadde nat wist wyterly wheþer deþ wer soure oþer sweyte. c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 66 In the historial parties of the Oold Testament and of the Newe, is miche delectable and sweete. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cccxxxvij^v How swete is y^e name of peace, and how comfortable a thing it is. 1567 J. Maplet Greene Forest f. 4^v [It] is otherwise effectuous to bring a man in sweete sleepe. 1575 G. Gascoigne Glasse of Gouernem. iv. vi. sig. Iiii^v Although it seeme vnto some men a sweete thing to commaunde. 1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. iv. 185 + 8 O tis most sweete When in one line two crafts directly meete. a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) ii. i. 12 Sweet are the vses of aduersitie. View more context for this quotation 1616 B. Jonson Epicœne iv. v, in Wks. I. 579 Ô reuenge, how sweet art thou! View more context for this quotation 1638 F. Junius Painting of Ancients 119 Art, abounding with many sweet vices, drew still the eyes..of unadvised spectators. 1650 J. Trapp Clavis to Bible (Gen. xl. 3) 310 A sweet providence; that these obnoxious Officers should be sent to Joseph's prison. 1744 J. Wesley & C. Wesley Coll. Psalms & Hymns (new ed.) i. 51 When He vouchsafes our Hands to use, It makes the Labour sweet. 1785 W. Cowper Task ii. 482 Oh, popular applause, what heart of man Is proof against thy sweet seducing charms? 1785 W. Cowper Task i. 94 Sweet sleep enjoys the curate in his desk. 1801 W. Wordsworth Sparrow's Nest 19 A heart, the fountain of sweet tears. 1876 M. E. Braddon Joshua Haggard's Daughter II. i. 22 It was sweeter to you to help others than to be happy yourself. 1882 W. Ballantine Some Exper. Barrister's Life iv. 41 I received half a guinea, the sweetest that ever found its way into my pocket. b. (a) to the senses; esp. to the sight = Lovely, of charming appearance. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > aesthetic quality or good taste > [adjective] > pleasing to the aesthetic sense gentc1300 sweet?a1366 comelyc1400 pretty1442 poetical1447 beautifula1586 concinnous1662 poetic1731 ?a1366 Romaunt Rose 622 And thus he walketh to solace Hym and his folk for swetter place To pleyn ynne he may not fynde. c1430 Chev. Assigne 44 A seluer cheyne Eche on of hem hadde, a-bowte his swete swyre. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xvi. 66 Quhen byrdis syngis on the spray,..For softnes of that sweit sesoune. 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. x. sig. Y2v Warlike Cæsar, tempted with the name Of this sweet Island. 1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 99 The place where the Marchants meete, called la Loggia, lying vpon the sea, is as sweete an open roome, as euer I saw. 1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. iv. 137 The sweetest face, the youngest age, and whitest skin was in greatest value and request. 1645 R. Symonds Diary (1859) 175 His Majestie lay at Mr. Crompton's howse, a sweet place in a fyne parke. a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1646 (1955) II. 483 This sweete Towne, has more well built Palaces than any of its dimensions in all Italy. 1812 Ld. Byron Childe Harold: Cantos I & II i. lxxix. 47 On high The corse [of the bull killed in the bull-fight] is pil'd—sweet sight for vulgar eyes. 1837 T. Campbell in Lit. Gaz. 23 Dec. 812 It was as sweet an Autumn day As ever shone on Clyde. 1843 G. Borrow Bible in Spain II. viii. 169 It is a sweet spot, and the prospect which opens from it is extensive. (b) The phr. sweet in (the, one's) bed has been used with various implications. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual desire > [adjective] > causing sexual excitement or desire sweet in (the, one's) beda1300 provocatoryc1443 provocative?a1505 marrow-burning?1592 marrow-eating1593 marrow-melting1593 tickle1604 marrow-boiling1605 venereous1611 venerious1620 veneral1651 aphrodisiacal1719 erogenic1887 erogenous1889 erotogenic1909 erotogenous1928 pervy1945 bodacious1991 a1300 Havelok 2927 [He] dide him þere sone wedde Hire þat was ful swete in bedde. 1721 J. Kelly Compl. Coll. Scotish Prov. 290 Sweet in the Bed, and sweir up in the Morning, was never a good Housewife. a1800 in Laing Sel. Anc. Pop. P. Scotl. (1822) xxiii. Introd. A Clown is a Clown both at home and abroad; When a Rake he is comely, and sweet in his bed. c. Of song or discourse, and hence transferred of a poet, orator, etc., with mixture of sense A. 4: Pleasing to the ear and mind; pleasant to hear or listen to; sometimes implying ‘persuasive, winning’, †or in bad sense, ‘alluring, enticing’. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > [adjective] > having pleasing speech or eloquent > pleasing (of speech) well-spoken?a1400 sweetc1405 honeyc1450 mellifluous?a1475 mellifluate1508 well-spoken1539 mellifluent1601 suaviloquent1656 c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 267 Somwhat he lypsed for his wantownesse To make his englyssh sweete vp on his tonge. 1423 Kingis Quair iv His metir suete..full of moralitee. a1500 R. Henryson in tr. Æsop Fables Prol. l. 3 in Poems (1981) 3 Thair polite termes of sweit rhetore. 1526 Bible (Tyndale) Rom. xvi. 18 By swete preachynges and flatterynge wordes [they] deceave the hertes of the innocentes. a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) sig. E.j He was so swete in his wordes, that many tymes he was harde more than thre houres togyther. 1612 J. Brinsley Ludus Lit. xiii. 175 Such a one [sc. book] as is most easie, both for the sweetest Latine and choisest matter. 1645 J. Milton L'Allegro in Poems 36 Sweetest Shakespear fancies childe. 1746 P. Francis tr. Horace Art of Poetry 113 Whose rapid Numbers, suited to the Stage,..With sweet Variety were found to please. d. ironically: cf. fine adj. 7c. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > suffering > displeasure > [adjective] > unpleasant loatha700 unsweetc890 grimlyc893 unquemeOE un-i-quemeOE evila1131 sourc1175 illc1220 unhightlyc1275 unwelcomec1325 unblithec1330 unnetc1330 unrekena1350 unagreeablec1374 uncouthc1380 unsavouryc1380 displeasantc1386 unlikinga1398 ungaina1400 crabbedc1400 unlovelyc1400 displeasing1401 eschewc1420 unsoot1420 mislikinga1425 unlikelya1425 unlustya1425 fastidiousc1425 unpleasantc1430 displicable1471 unthankfulc1475 displeasant1481 uneasy1483 unpleasinga1500 unfaring1513 badc1530 malpleasant?1533 noisome1542 thanklessa1547 ungrate1548 untoothsome1548 ungreeable1550 contrary1561 disagreeable1570 offensible1575 offensive1576 naughty1578 delightlessa1586 undelightful1585 unwisheda1586 unpleasurable1587 undelightsomec1595 dislikeful1596 disliking1596 ungrateful1596 unsweet?a1600 distastive1600 impleasing1602 distasting1603 distasteful1607 unsightly1608 undelectable1610 disgustful1611 unrelishing1611 waspisha1616 undeliciousa1618 unwished-for1617 disrelishing1631 unenjoyed1643 unjoyous1645 mirya1652 unwelcomed1651 unpleasivea1656 sweet1656 injucund1657 insuave1657 unpalatable1658 unhandsome1660 undesirable1667 disrelishablea1670 uncouthsome1684 shocking1703 nasty1705 embittering1746 indelectable1751 undelightinga1774 nice and ——1796 unenjoyablea1797 ungenial1796 uncomplacent1805 ungracious1807 bitter1810 rotten1813 uncongenial1813 quarrelsome1825 grimy1833 nice1836 unrelished1863 bloody1867 unbewitching1876 ferocious1877 displeasurable1879 rebarbative1892 charming1893 crook1898 naar1900 peppery1901 negative1902 poisonous1906 off-putting1935 unsympathetic1937 piggy1942 funky1946 umpty1948 pooey1967 minging1970 Scrooge-like1976 sucky1984 stank1991 stanky1991 1656 G. Collier Vindiciæ Thesium de Sabbato (new ed.) ix. 18 Here's another sweet inference. 1677 G. Miege New Dict. French & Eng. ii. sig. Ccc^v/2 I should have made a sweet business on't for my self. 1725 T. Thomas in MSS. Dk. Portland (Hist. MSS. Comm.) VI. 133 We had a specimen of the sweet road we were to clamber through,..a pretty sharp ascent..full of loose, ragged stones. 1850 F. E. Smedley Frank Fairlegh xl. 334 Oh! they made a sweet row, I can assure you. e. In colloquial use, an emotional epithet expressive of the speaker's personal feelings as to the attractiveness of the object. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > attractiveness > [adjective] gracious1340 glorious skinnyc1400 drawing1435 gracefulc1449 attrayant1477 well-favoured1539 alluring1567 graceda1586 attracting1589 attractive1592 winning1596 appealing1598 taking1603 allicient1613 enchantinga1616 motive1615 temptinga1616 allurant1631 catchinga1640 gaining1642 canny1643 charmful1656 charming1664 mignon1671 disarminga1718 prepossessing1737 seducing1749 seductive176. eye-catching1770 sweet1779 catchy1784 attaching1785 engaging1816 cute1834 cunning1843 taky1854 cynosural1855 smart1860 fetching1880 seductious1883 fruity1900 barry1923 hot stuff1928 swoony1934 dishy1961 dolly1964 jiggy1996 aegyo2007 1779 Mirror No. 41. ⁋7 Miss Betsy had taken down some sweet copies of verses, as she called them, in her memorandum book. 1782 F. Burney Cecilia I. i. iv. 45 She has all Paris in her disposal; the sweetest caps! the most beautiful trimmings! and her ribbons are quite divine! 1840 W. M. Thackeray Barber Cox in Comic Almanack 25 Honourable Tom Fitz-Warter, cousin of Lord Byron's; smokes all day; and has written the sweetest poems you can imagine. 1884 Boston (Mass.) Jrnl. 22 Nov. 2/5 A new fashion in false hair is quite sweet. 1887 A. Jessopp Arcady viii. 240 She falls in love with some sweet thing in hats or handkerchiefs. f. Used as an intensifier in certain slang phrases (often of a coarse nature) meaning ‘nothing at all’. See also F.A. n. at F n. Initialisms 3a, Fanny Adams n. 2, S.F.A. n. at S n.¹ Initialisms 1. Also sweet nothing. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adjective] > utter or absolute > implying negative colossal1855 effing1929 cuntinga1935 focking1956 sweet1958 twatting1967 1958 F. Norman Bang to Rights i. 28 You can do sweet B.A. about it. 1959 I. Opie & P. Opie Lore & Lang. Schoolchildren xvii. 365 They stand on the field and they rave and they shout On subjects they know sweet nothing about. 1973 B. Broadfoot Ten Lost Years ix. 95 The government provided sweet bugger all. Absolutely sweet bugger all. 1973 B. Turner Hot-foot vi. 43 What had I gained for my trouble? Sweet nothing, that's what. 6. In extended use: Having an agreeable or benign quality, influence, operation, or effect. Chiefly technical: see quots. a. Favourable, genial. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > advantage > [adjective] > advantageous or favourable likinga1387 friendlya1398 sweetc1400 propice1443 favourablec1460 towardly1520 propitious1581 aspectful1611 auspiciousa1616 benigna1631 fautive1667 benevolenta1676 bright1684 the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > [adjective] > and pleasing goodeOE graciousa1398 sweetc1400 graceda1586 cushty1929 c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 236 Styffe stremes & streȝt hem strayned a whyle..Tyl a swetter ful swyþe hem sweȝed to bonk. 1594 H. Plat Diuerse Sorts of Soyle 50 in Jewell House Some further & sweeter helps for her barren groundes. 1824 J. C. Loudon Encycl. Gardening (ed. 2) §3295 After the bed has come to a sweet heat, shut down close at night. b. Of land, products, or the like: Free from bitter or similar deleterious qualities. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > quality of being satisfactory > [adjective] wellOE sufferablea1340 worthy1340 sufficient1489 paregala1500 competent1535 something like?1556 right1567 sweet1577 fairish1611 all right1652 fair1656 comfortable1658 decent1711 respectable1750 unrepulsive1787 decentisha1814 fair-to-middling1822 fine1828 christena1838 OK1839 tidy1844 not (or none) so dusty?1856 sweet1898 oke1928 okey-doke1934 okey-dokey1936 tickety-boo1939 cool1951 aight1993 1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry i. f. 24 The land..is..called pleasaunt ground, sweete, blacke, rotten, and mellowed, which are the signes of good ground. 1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball vi. xxiv. 688 Bay..groweth plentifully..by the sea syde in saltishe groundes..and dieth not in the winter season, as it doth in sweete groundes. 1649 W. Blith Eng. Improver xxiii. 140 Which sorts of Land if Rich, and Sweet, will lose Advance by Ploughing. 1765 Museum Rusticum 3 239 The land most suitable for this plant [sc. teazel] is that of a thin sweet surface, and marly bottom. 1839 R. I. Murchison Silurian Syst. i. x. 135 From its sulphureous properties, it is also preferred to coal of the sweetest and best quality. 1840 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 3 296/2 Iron of an excellent quality, which they term sweet-iron. c. Easily managed, handled, or dealt with; working or moving easily or smoothly. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > duping, making a fool of > [adjective] > fooled, duped foolified1584 fool-taken1608 cozened1610 gullified1624 gulled1647 sweet1673 bubbled1681 bilked1682 imposed-upon1706 cheated1709 duped1756 pigeoned1777 swindled1809 thimblerigged1840 befooled1842 bamboozled1866 spoofed1958 dicked1972 the world > action or operation > easiness > [adjective] > not hindering or encumbering > not hindered or encumbered > operating or progressing easily current1577 expedite1578 glib1594 facile1607 well-oiled1614 well-going1623 undisobliging1715 sweet1725 swimming1768 the world > action or operation > advantage > convenience > [adjective] > easily managed handsome1440 wieldya1450 maniable1484 willing?a1513 tractable1555 wieldsome1565 manuable1594 manageable1598 handleable1611 subject1619 manuala1631 handy1640 flippant1677 wieldablea1688 clever1715 able1741 habile1741 docile1774 sweet1883 hand-tame1911 1673 R. Head Canting Acad. 192 The fourteenth a Gamester, if he sees the Hic sweet, He presently drops down a Cog in the street. 1725 New Canting Dict. Sweet, easy to be taken in: Also expert, dexterous, clever: As, Sweet's your Hand, said of one who has the Knack of stealing by Sleight of Hand. 1801 J. Strutt Glig-gamena Angel-ðeod i. i. 16 Beasts of sweet flight,..the buck, the doe, the bear, the rein deer, the elk, and the spytard. 1883 R. L. Stevenson Treasure Island ii. vii. 55 You never imagined a sweeter schooner—a child might sail her. 1915 Blackwood's Mag. Sept. 316/1 She was a sweet ship in a seaway if one knew her idiosyncrasies. 1937 Times 11 Dec. 4/7 The engine is, in my opinion, more responsive and sweet than its predecessor. 1955 Times 10 May 7/6 The clutch is exceptionally sweet in operation, a point which helps to make the car easily manoeuvrable. 1975 Washington Post 25 Jan. a19/1 As J. Robert Oppenheimer said of the hydrogen bomb: ‘It was so technically sweet, we had to do it.’ †d. Art. Delicate, soft. Obsolete. (Cf. sweeten v. 8b.) ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > work of art > [adjective] > qualities of work of art uniforma1552 sweet1662 stiff1779 chargeda1806 late1851 ineffective1858 detailed1867 schematic1868 rhythmical1880 functional1881 late-period1927 engaged1947 engagé1955 retardataire1958 1662 J. Evelyn Sculptura iv. 66 So sweet, even and bold was his work. 1662 W. Faithorne Art of Graveing & Etching xvii. 21 It is at the first operation, that you are to cover all the faintest and sweetest places. 7. transferred (chiefly in phr.) Fond of or inclined for sweet things, esp. in sweet tooth n. at Compounds 1a. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > appetite > [adjective] > having (good) appetite > having appetite for specific kind of food sweet-mouthed1542 sweeta1616 sweet-toothed1615 sugary1664 a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) iii. i. 320 She hath a sweet mouth. View more context for this quotation 8. a. Dearly loved or prized, precious; beloved, dear. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > loved one > [adjective] lief and deara900 dearOE sweetOE lovedOE dearlyOE liefOE dearworth?c1225 chere1297 lovered1340 beloveda1375 dearworthyc1374 chary?a1400 sugaredc1475 tender1485 chereful1486 affectionatea1513 dilect1521 chare1583 ingling1595 darling1596 affected1600 in the love of1631 jewel-darling1643 adorable1653 fonded1684 endeared1841 dotey1852 OE Cynewulf Juliana 94 Ðu eart dohtor min seo dyreste ond seo sweteste in sefan minum. c1275 Passion our Lord 64 in Old Eng. Misc. 39 Vor vuele he dude god, Þer-vore hi at þen ende schedden his swete blod. c1375 Lay Folks Mass Bk. (MS. B.) 449 Swete ihesu make me saue. c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Dido. 1042 Whom schulde he louyn but this lady swete? c1386 G. Chaucer Prol. to Melibeus ⁋18 By goddes sweete pyne. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 14401 God luued þe Iuus lang beforn þat his suet [Fairf. squete, Gött. suete, Trin. Cambr. swete] sun was born. c1425 Seven Sag. (P.) 2080 Thou wylt by schent, by swyte Jhesus. c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) ii. 3 I..render grace..to god my swet creatore. c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 11381 All sweire þai, full swiftly, vpon swete haloues. 1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 20^v Hee wyll bee..readie to offer himselfe a sacrifice for your sweet sake. 1583 H. Howard Defensatiue sig. Ppiv^v Policarpus, the sweete Martir of our Lorde. a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) ii. vi. 30 Ayming at Siluia as a sweeter friend. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) iv. vi. 55 Thy Life to me is sweet . View more context for this quotation 1780 F. Burney Early Jrnls. & Lett. (2003) IV. 129 Ah how different & how superior our sweet Father! b. In forms of address, frequently affectionate, but formerly also (now archaic) respectful or complimentary. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > terms of endearment > [adjective] sweeta1225 ownc1300 deara1325 littlec1405 whitec1460 bonny1540 honeya1556 nitty1598 honey-sweeta1616 old1644 dearie1691 ou1838 diddy1963 the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous forms of address or title > [adjective] goodeOE liefc897 sweeta1225 beauc1300 gentlec1330 comelya1375 faira1375 reverentc1410 reverend1422 virtuous?1473 singular1485 lucky1568 respectable1749 a1225 Leg. Kath. 1536 Mi swete lif, se swoteliche he smecheð me..þet al me þuncheð..þet he sent me. c1330 Spec. Gy de Warw. 555 Swete lord, forȝiue þu me. a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 4579 Swete sire,..wharfore was al þis fare formest bi-gunne? 1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear v. 45 O let me not be mad sweet heauen. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 (1623) ii. v. 137 Nay take me with thee, good sweet Exeter. View more context for this quotation 1617 R. Fenton Treat. Church Rome 145 Sweet Jesus, had it not beene for these and these, we had neuer beene enabled to preach thy Gospell. 1693 Humours & Conversat. Town 31 Ah sweet Mr. Jovial, you mistake me quite. 1782 W. Cowper Parrot iii ‘Sweet Poll!’ his doting mistress cries, ‘Sweet Poll!’ the mimic bird replies. 1807 ‘P. Plymley’ Two Lett. on Catholics i. 6 In the first place, my sweet Abraham, the Pope is not yet landed. 1852 F. W. Faber Jesus & Mary (ed. 2) 184 Sweet Saviour! bless us ere we go. 1871 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues I. 23 Be of good cheer, sweet sir, and give your opinion. c. absol. in affectionate address: Beloved, dear one; also in superlative. (Cf. sweet n. 4.) ΚΠ c1300 K. Horn (Harl.) 465 Help me þat ych were Ydobbed to be knyhte, Suete, bi al þi myhte. a1400 Sir Beues (A.) 279 ‘Haue’, a seide, ‘ber þis sonde Me leue swet!’ a1400–50 Wars Alex. 2826 Here send I þe, my swete, salutis & ioy. c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Franklin's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 270 Haue mercy swete or ye wol do me deye. 1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 373 Gentle sweete, Your wits makes wise thinges foolish. View more context for this quotation 1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream iii. ii. 248 Sweete, doe not scorne her so. View more context for this quotation a1658 R. Lovelace Lucasta: Posthume Poems (1659) 3 Tell me not (Sweet) I am unkinde. 1814 P. B. Shelley To M. W. Godwin v We are not happy, sweet! 1819 P. B. Shelley Rosalind & Helen 7 Thou lead, my sweet, And I will follow. 1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay x. 157 I would give my life to buy peace for you, sweetest. d. Dear to the person himself; usually sarcastically, ‘pet’, ‘precious’: chiefly qualifying self or will. at one's own sweet will: just as one likes. Also in phrases to bet one's sweet life, to take one's own sweet time, to go one's own sweet way, and variants. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > [adjective] > relating to self > belonging to oneself, itself, etc. > dear to the person himself sweet1659 the mind > will > wish or inclination > [adverb] to one's willOE by one's willOE self-willesOE after a person's willOE a-willc1275 at willc1300 at one's (own) liberty1426 ad placituma1556 at pleasure1579 ad libitum1606 arbitrarilya1626 arbitrariously1653 discretionally1655 ad arbitrium1663 voluntarily1676 discretionarily1681 antecedently1682 discretionary?1707 ad lib1791 at one's own sweet will1802 at choice1817 at no allowance1858 1659 J. Rushworth Hist. Coll. 49 Let us not so far wrong the Jesuites, as to rob them of their sweet Positions and practice in that very point. 1746 P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Satires ii. v. 61 Bid him go home, of his sweet self take care. a1774 A. Tucker Light of Nature (1834) II. 401 Nor yet need he be too secure against all damage to his own sweet person. 1802 W. Wordsworth Composed upon Westm. Bridge in Misc. Sonn. 12 The river glideth at his own sweet will. 1846 Ld. Tennyson Lit. Squabbles iii The petty fools of rhyme..Who..strain to make an inch of room For their sweet selves. 1862 J. G. Whittier Amy Wentworth 151 Love has never known a law Beyond its own sweet will. 1873 J. A. Symonds Stud. Greek Poets xi. 344 The monk Planudes..remodelled the Greek Anthology of Cephalas at his own sweet will. 1889 R. Kipling From Sea to Sea II. xxxii. 110 The younger ones [sc. Mormons]..will mix with the Gentile..and you bet your sweet life there's a holy influence working toward conversion in the kiss of an average Gentile. 1942 L. V. Berrey & M. Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang §54/3 Not hurry..take one's (own) sweet time. 1945 A. Kober Parm Me 85 You betcha sweet life I'll give you a buzz. 1946 Civil & Mil. Gaz. (Lahore) 19 July 6/4 The station authorities..took their own sweet time in handing the driver the token for him to proceed on his journey. a1966 M. Allingham Cargo of Eagles (1968) iv. 52 I let him pass, making sure he'd turn off, but not on your sweet life. He was right with me all the way. 1970 ‘D. Halliday’ Dolly & Cookie Bird vii. 105 You go your own sweet way, or so the evidence tells me. 1975 D. Delman One Man's Murder ii. 49 So you're finally here... You took your own sweet time about it. 1976 H. MacInnes Agent in Place xi. 120 Katie has complicated everything in her own sweet way. 1978 ‘G. Vaughan’ Belgrade Drop v. 33 If one single person's seen you get on this lorry..you can bet your sweet life they'll turn it inside out. 9. Having pleasant disposition and manners; amiable, kindly; gracious, benignant. a. Of persons, etc. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > [adjective] > agreeable in manner sweetc825 soota1250 coutha1375 pleasantc1387 gallant?a1513 plausible1577 plausive1595 placentiousa1661 winsome1677 genial1746 clever1758 nice1830 decent1902 c825 Vesp. Ps. xxiv. 8 Dulcis et rectus Dominus, swoete & reht dryten. c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 1258 Cullfre iss milde. & meoc. & swet. c1275 Moral Ode 381 in Old Eng. Misc. 71 God is so swete & so muchel in his godnesse. 1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 4088 Ou iesu þat þulke day worþ me suete & god. 1382 J. Wyclif Psalms xcix. [c.] 5 Preise ȝee his name, for swete is the Lord. 1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 390 Quhen he wes blyth he wes lufly And meyk and sweyt in cumpany. ?1553 Respublica (1952) i. i. 4 I doubte not a shewete Ladye I shall fynde hir. c1610–15 tr. Gregory of Nazianzus Life St. Nonna in C. Horstmann Lives Women Saints (1886) 176 She was a verie courteous and sweete woman. 1695 J. Edwards Disc. conc. Old & New-Test. III. xi. 350 Very Good-natur'd, Sweet, and Benign Persons. 1799 W. Wordsworth Lucy Gray ii The sweetest thing that ever grew Beside a human door! 1859 Ld. Tennyson Enid in Idylls of King 21 Seeing her [sc. Enid] so sweet and serviceable. 1905 E. Glyn Vicissitudes Evangeline 157 At luncheon she was sweet to me at once. ironical.1608 R. Armin Nest of Ninnies sig. D2 His report..making no bones of the sweet youth gaue his doings thus.1644 W. Prynne & C. Walker True Relation Prosecution N. Fiennes 26 (note) Was not this a sweet Governour, that professeth he had no more charge of his chiefest Fort, then of any house in the Towne? b. Of personal actions or attributes. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > [adjective] metheOE hendc1225 debonairc1230 hendya1250 courteousc1275 hendlyc1275 bonairc1300 quaintc1300 sweetc1330 graciousa1375 meetha1400 debonary1402 debonariousc1485 humanec1500 civil1565 genty1660 discreet1739 polite1751 politeful1832 the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > [adjective] mildeOE blitheOE goodOE well-willingOE beina1200 goodfulc1275 blithefula1300 faira1300 benignc1320 gainc1330 sweetc1330 kinda1333 propicec1350 well-willeda1382 well-disposeda1393 well-hearteda1393 well-willinga1393 friendsomea1400 well-willya1400 charitablec1405 well-willed1417 good-heartedc1425 kindlyc1425 honeyed1435 propitious1440 affectuousc1441 willya1449 homelyc1450 benevolous1470 benigned1470 benevolent1482 favourousc1485 well-meaned1488 well-meaning1498 humanec1500 favourablec1503 affectionatea1516 well-mindedc1522 beneficial1526 propiciant1531 benignate1533 well-intendeda1535 beneficious1535 kind-hearted1535 well-given1535 affectioned1539 well-wishing1548 figgy?1549 good-meaning1549 affectedc1553 affectionated1561 well-natured1561 well-affected?1563 officious1565 well-inclined1569 good-natured1582 partial1587 graceful?1593 well-intentioned1598 beneficent1616 candid1633 kindlike1637 benefic1641 kindly-hearted1762 well-meant1765 benignanta1782 sweet-hearted1850 c1330 Speculum Guy 998 Þo seide anon þe profete To þe widewe wordes swete. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 20086 He þat nam of hir his flexs, Als his suet will al wess. c1400 Laud Troy Bk. 18657 God..graunte vs of his swete grace Ther-In to haue a swete place! 1473 in C. Rogers Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1879) I. 177 The ourman quhilk the Abbot assignis for kepyn of gud and suet nichtburhed. 1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue ii. i. sig. Fiii^v To see his sweete looks, and here her swete wurds. a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) ii. ii. 114 I, I. Antipholus, looke strange and frowne, Some other Mistresse hath thy sweet aspects. View more context for this quotation 1647 R. Herrick Almes in Noble Numbers 22 Give, if thou canst, an Almes; if not, afford, Instead of that, a sweet and gentle word. a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Westmorl. 140 One of a sweet nature, comely presence, courteous carriage. 1705 G. Stanhope Paraphr. Epist. & Gospels II. 265 His Temper and Conversation is sweet and obliging. 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. viii. 321 His person was pleasing, his temper singularly sweet. 1886 ‘Ouida’ House Party (1887) v. 92 How are your children? Do they still care for me? That is very sweet of them. †c. Gentle, easy. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > authority > lack of strictness > [adjective] > lenient mildeOE eði modesa1325 easyc1325 sweet1607 lenitive1620 lenient1787 go-easy1901 1607 G. Markham Cavelarice ii. 50 A smoothe Cannon..is of all byts the sweetest. 1607 G. Markham Cavelarice iv. 38 You shal..carrie an euen and sweet hand vpon him. 1622 T. Scott Belgicke Pismire 37 To know the natures of all people, and to be able to carry a sweet hand, wherewith to manage them easily. 1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. ix. 196 That he was made a Cardinall of purpose to be sent then into England for the sweet managing of those Affairs. d. to keep (someone) sweet: to keep (someone) well-disposed towards oneself, esp. by complaisance or bribery. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > illegal payment or exaction > [verb (transitive)] > bribe meedOE underorna1325 corrump1387 forbuy1393 hirec1400 wage1461 fee1487 under-arearc1503 bribe1528 grease1528 money1528 corrupt1548 budc1565 to feed with money1567 to put out a person's eyes with (a gift, bribe, etc.)1580 sweeten1594 to grease the fist or (one) in the fist1598 over-bribe1619 to buy off1629 palter1641 to take off1646 buy1652 overmoneya1661 bub1684 to speak to ——1687 to tickle in the palm1694 daub1699 overbuy1710 touch1752 palm1767 to get at ——1780 fix1790 subsidize1793 sop1837 to buy over1848 backsheesh1850 nobble1856 square1859 hippodrome1866 see1867 boodleize1883 boodle1886 to get to ——1901 reach1906 straighten1923 lubricate1928 to keep (someone) sweet1939 sling1939 to pay off1942 bung1950 1939 C. Day Lewis Child of Misfortune ii. vi. 241 It was necessary to keep the wealthier parishioners sweet. 1944 ‘N. Shute’ Pastoral viii. 202 Mine won't worry, but I'd like to keep them sweet. 1965 N. Gulbenkian Pantaraxia xi. 228 Mr. Sheets..had what he described as ‘a wonderful idea’ to keep the Russians sweet politically. 1972 G. Bromley In Absence of Body vi. 69 Joe Retford..helps to keep him sweet—wines him and dines him and all that. 1978 N. Freeling Night Lords iii. 17 The cops were capable of leaking the most dreadful nonsense if one didn't take pains to keep them sweet. 10. to be sweet on (upon): †a. To behave affectionately or gallantly towards, treat caressingly. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > affection > [verb (transitive)] > treat or behave affectionately to make much (also little, nothing, too much, etc.) of (or on)c1395 to make of (also on)1601 much1640 endear1683 to be sweet on (upon)1694 to be all over (a person)1912 1694 L. Echard in tr. Plautus Comedies Pref. sig. a 7 This Stripling began to be sweet upon her, and waggish upon me too. 1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew To be Sweet upon, to coakse, wheedle, entice or allure. 1716 J. Addison Freeholder No. 44. ⁋5 What still gave him greater offence, was a drunken bishop, who reeled from one side of the court to the other, and was very sweet upon an Indian queen. 1754 Connoisseur No. 7. ⁋11 I would recommend it to all married people, but especially to the ladies, not to be so sweet upon their dears before company. b. To have a particular fondness or affection for (one of the opposite sex); to be enamoured of or smitten with. Also transferred. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > amorous love > be in love or infatuated with [verb (transitive)] loveOE paramoura1500 to love with1597 to be sweet on (upon)1740 to be cracked about or on1874 to be stuck on1878 mash1881 to be shook on1888 to go dingy on1904 to fall for ——1906 lurve1908 to have or get a crush on1913 to be soppy on1918 to have a pash for (or on)1922 to have a case on1928 to be queer for1941 1740 tr. C. de F. de Mouhy Fortunate Country Maid I. 40 [He] is very sweet upon her; but I shall watch him so narrowly, that he'll not find an Opportunity of speaking to her, but when I am by. 1843 C. Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit (1844) xi. 143 I think he is sweet upon your daughter. 1853 ‘C. Bede’ Adventures Mr. Verdant Green xii. 113 The bar was presided over by a young lady, ‘on whom’ he said ‘he was desperately sweet.’ 1862 G. J. Whyte-Melville Inside Bar (ed. 12) iii. 256 If he should see any gentleman rather sweet upon the nag. 11. Australian slang. Fine, in order, ready. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > quality of being satisfactory > [adjective] wellOE sufferablea1340 worthy1340 sufficient1489 paregala1500 competent1535 something like?1556 right1567 sweet1577 fairish1611 all right1652 fair1656 comfortable1658 decent1711 respectable1750 unrepulsive1787 decentisha1814 fair-to-middling1822 fine1828 christena1838 OK1839 tidy1844 not (or none) so dusty?1856 sweet1898 oke1928 okey-doke1934 okey-dokey1936 tickety-boo1939 cool1951 aight1993 1898 Bulletin (Sydney) 17 Dec. (Red Page) Sweet, roujig and not too stinkin' are good. 1939 K. Tennant Foveaux 312 ‘I brassed a mug yesterday,’ he told her, ‘and everything's sweet again.’ He flashed a roll of notes. 1949 L. Glassop Lucky Palmer 242 ‘Everything jake?’ he asked. ‘She's sweet,’ said Max. 1962 S. Gore Down Golden Mile 120 Might as well be in it. We'll be sweet for getting back. 1975 X. Herbert Poor Fellow my Country 353 Mossie came in..to say cheerfully, ‘She's sweet.’ B. adv. Sweetly; so as to be sweet (literal or figurative). 1. = sweetly adv. 1 (Chiefly with verb smell.) ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sweetness > [adverb] sweeta1325 sweetly1530 the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > fragrance > [adverb] sootc1000 spice-likea1325 sweeta1325 softa1400 fragrantly?1521 sweetlya1547 odoriferously1601 nectarel1648 aromatically1657 ambrosially1826 a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2443 [I]osep dede hise lich..riche-like smeren, And spice-like swete smaken. c1390 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vernon) (1867) A. vii. 206 Þei schule soupe þe swettore whon þei han hit deseruet. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 1014 Floures þat ful swete smelles. 1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet ii. i. 86 Whats in a name? That which we call a Rose, By any other name would smell as sweet . View more context for this quotation c1640 J. Shirley Contention Ajax & Ulisses (1659) 128 Onely the actions of the just Smell sweet, and blossom in their dust. 1668 J. Flavell Saint Indeed 28 When the salt of heavenly mindedness is again cast into the Spring, the streams will run clearer and sweeter. 1746 P. Francis tr. Horace in P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Epistles i. xix. 6 Soon the tuneful Nine At Morning breath'd, and not too sweet, of Wine. 2. = sweetly adv. 2. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > [adverb] > melodious or harmonious sweetly1340 melodiouslya1449 sweet1568 soot1579 tunably1586 harmonically1589 consort1590 harmoniously1611 tunefully1656 symphoniously1757 nightingaly1870 1568 Christis Kirk on Grene in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1928) II. 263 He playit so schill and sang so sweit. 1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet ii. i. 210 How siluer sweet sound louers tongues in night. View more context for this quotation a1708 T. Ward England's Reformation (1710) i. 96 She Psalms wou'd often sing in Meeter Like Hopkins, but a great deal Sweeter. 1851 Ld. Tennyson Edwin Morris 113 Then low and sweet I whistled thrice. 1891 F. W. Farrar Darkness & Dawn I. xxii. 207 ‘I think,' said Nero, savagely, ‘that swans sing sweetest before they die.’ 3. a. = sweetly adv. 4. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [adverb] fairlyOE comelyOE hendly?c1225 goodlyc1275 seemlya1325 sweet1338 quaintly1340 properlyc1390 well?a1400 comelilyc1400 seemlilyc1400 jollilyc1426 formally1548 handsomely1560 sightly1592 handsome1600 winsomely17.. nicely1714 in one's best (also worst) looks1816 presentably1848 the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > aesthetic quality or good taste > [adverb] > pleasing to the aesthetic sense sweet1338 prettilyc1450 sweetly1576 pretty1617 1338 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 275 Doun Sir Richard went, & spak to þam lufly, Many of þam he knewe, so fair spak & so suete. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 15186 Þe lauerd..ansuard þam ful suete. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Miller's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 119 He kiste hir sweete. a1529 J. Skelton Magnyfycence (?1530) sig. Fi So I wolde clepe her so I wolde kys her swete. 1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) I. 517 Beseikand thame richt sweit to cum him to. 1599 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet ii. ii. 32 Goodmorrow father. Fri. Benedicitie. What early tongue so sweete saluteth me? b. = sweetly adv. 4d. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > easiness > [adverb] > without hindrance or encumberment freelyeOE wellOE freec1250 glidderly13.. without (also but) lettingc1330 oliver current1466 smootha1500 pronewise1585 currently1586 glib1594 glibly1607 clearly1612 swimminglya1640 smoothly1668 uninterrupted1677 unobstructedly1788 smack-smooth1802 sweetly1825 sweet1846 unimpededly1846 hitchlessly1910 the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > [adverb] > and pleasing comelyOE winlyc1000 comelilyc1400 trimly?a1513 trima1547 sweetly1594 cleverly1697 nicely1714 tidy1824 sweet1846 wally1847 society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > types of machine generally > [adverb] > working smoothly or easily sweetly1825 sweet1846 1846 C. Holtzapffel Turning & Mech. Manip. II. 689 The generality of other saw-files are single or float-cut, that kind of file tooth being considered to ‘cut sweeter’. 1862 J. Pycroft Cricket Tutor 26 There is one way..to make the ball fly away like a shot, going so clean off the bat that you scarcely feel it; and this is the test of clean hitting—of the ball going off ‘sweet’. 4. = sweetly adv. 3. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > pleasure > quality of being pleasant or pleasurable > [adverb] sweetlyc900 queemlyOE lustly971 winlyc1000 sootlya1125 to (a person's) queemc1175 lustilya1225 avenantlya1375 pleasinglya1398 queema1400 beinc1400 farrandlyc1400 pleasantlyc1400 pleasantlya1425 queemfullyc1425 thankfullyc1480 greablyc1500 dulcely1508 dulcea1525 pleasant1553 agreeably?1567 pleasurably1580 sugarly1587 flattering1597 sweet1597 attractively1640 well-pleasingly1645 welcomely1646 flatteringly1661 relishingly1677 satisfyingly1743 sweetsome1799 smilingly1806 dulcetly1810 gratifyingly1822 honeyedly1832 enjoyably1877 suavely1883 congenially1884 a fair treat1884 the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > pleasantness of sound > [adverb] sweetly1340 sweet1597 euphoniously1836 euphonically1884 1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet ii. i. 232 Sleepe dwell vpon thine eyes, peace on thy breast. I would that I were sleep and peace of sweet to rest. View more context for this quotation 1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice v. i. 54 How sweet the moone-light sleepes vpon this banke. View more context for this quotation 1757 T. Gray Ode II iii. ii, in Odes 19 Her lyon-port, her awe-commanding face, Attemper'd sweet to virgin-grace. 1813 P. B. Shelley Queen Mab vi. 76 The stars, Which on thy cradle beamed so brightly sweet. Compounds Combinations and special collocations. C1. of the adjective. a. With nouns: See also sweetmeat n., sweet singer n., sweet-water n. sweetback n. U.S. slang a woman's lover, a ladies' man; a pimp; also sweetback man (cf. sweet man n. below). ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > a lover > [noun] > male lover servantc1405 specialc1425 servitorc1450 love-lad1586 young man1589 inamorato1592 swainc1592 gentleman friend1667 enamorado1677 spark1707 beau?1720 Johnny1726 man friend1736 feller1842 novio1843 soupirant1849 fella1874 man1874 fellow1878 square-pusher1890 stud1895 papa1896 lover mana1905 boyfriend1906 daddy1912 lover-boy1925 sheikh1925 sweetback1929 sweet man1942 older man1951 boyf1990 society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > prostitution > [noun] > pimping or procuring > procurer of either sex > pimp putourc1390 panderc1450 mitchera1500 apple-squire?1536 squire of dames or ladies1590 apron-squire1593 bed-broker1594 pimp1600 pippin squire1600 petticoat-monger1605 smockster1608 underputter1608 broker-between1609 squire of the placket1611 squire1612 fleshmongera1616 cock bawd1632 whiskin1632 pimp-whiskin1638 bully1675 foot pimp1690 mutton-broker1694 pimp whisk1707 flash-man1789 panderer1826 bludger1856 whoremaster1864 mack1894 lover1904 jelly bean1905 procureur1910 P.I.1928 sweetback1929 sweet man1942 nookie-bookie1943 papasan1970 1929 in P. Oliver Screening Blues (1968) vi. 206 Had a man, good old sweetback. 1935 A. J. Pollock Underworld Speaks 117/2 Sweet back, a pimp. 1950 R. P. Blesh & H. Janis They all played Ragtime ii. 39 The dapper, foppish ‘macks’ or ‘sweet-back men’..got their gambling stakes from the girls. 1974 Black World Sept. 25/2 Long Black Song tells us, here in the 1970's, that the days of darky entertainers, superflies, sweetbacks, and Melindas, if not over, are numbered. † sweet-bag n. Obsolete a small bag or sachet filled with a scented or aromatic substance, used for perfuming the air, clothes, etc.; occasionally transferred of the honey-bag of a bee. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > fragrance > perfume making > [noun] > container musk ball1423 puff1436 casting-glass1544 perfuming pan1558 perfumer1591 pouncet-box1598 perfumier1601 sweet-bag1615 casting-bottle1638 perfuming pota1650 musk bag1687 smelling-bottle1722 scent-bottle1765 scent box1777 vinaigrette1811 scent jar1813 scent bag1816 scent ball1832 pouncet1843 scent casket1845 pot-pourri jar1848 cassolette1851 scent sachet1856 scent spray1858 lavender drawer1863 lavender bag1865 odorator1890 pot-pourri bowl1904 lavender sachet1938 the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Hymenoptera > [noun] > suborder Apocrita, Petiolata, or Heterophaga > group Aculeata (stinging) > superfamily Apoidea (bees) > honey-bag honey bag1600 bottle1609 sweet-bag1615 1615 in W. Foster Lett. received by E. India Co. (1899) III. 16 Some pillow sweetbag or other like thing of the rockwork used lately in England. 1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §385 When Bodies are Moved or Stirred, though not Broken, they Smell more; As a Sweet-Bagge waved. 1648 R. Herrick Hesperides sig. C8 About the sweet bag of a Bee, Two Cupids fell at odds [printed ddos]. 1707 C. Cibber Double Gallant (ed. 2) i. 5 Her Sweetbags instead of..Musk and Amber, breath nothing but..Hartshorn, Rue, and Assafœtida. 1821 W. Scott Kenilworth II. viii. 203 Hast thou no perfumes and sweet bags, or any handsome casting bottles of the newest mode? † sweet-ball n. Obsolete a ball of scented or aromatic substance. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > fragrance > [noun] > fragrant substance or perfume pimentc1300 odoramentc1384 savouringc1384 odoura1425 aromatica1513 smella1533 fume1541 perfume1542 sweet-water?1543 scent1596 pomander1600 sweets1603 bisse1608 sweet-ball1617 plash1649 suffition1656 essence1661 odoratea1682 otto1822 aroma1830 nosegay1855 foo-foo1880 1617 Janua Linguarum 76 The Queene with her courtiers that weare feathers, smell of sweete-balls. 1637 T. Heywood Pleasant Dial. ii, in Wks. (1874) VI. 130 This sweet-Ball, Take it to cheare your heart. 1650 tr. J. A. Comenius Janua Linguarum Reserata §587 Sweet-powders, sweet balls, and besprinklings out of sweet-glass bottles. sweet band n. originally and chiefly U.S. a band which plays sweet music. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > musician > instrumentalist > company of instrumentalists > [noun] > band > type of waits1298 consort1587 wait player1610 wind music1650 the fiddles1676 military band1775 German band1819 street band1826 brass band1834 promenade band1836 horn-band1849 pipe band1867 wind-band1876 Hungarian band1882 jazz band1916 jazz orchestra1916 big band1919 road band1922 Schrammel quartet1924 showband1926 spasm band1926 dance-band1927 marching band1930 name band1932 ork1933 silver band1933 sweet band1935 Schrammel orchestra1938 pop band1942 jug band1946 steel band1949 rehearsal band1957 skiffle band1957 ghost band1962 support band1969 support group1969 scratch band1982 1935 Vanity Fair (N.Y.) Nov. 71/2 Hot musicians look down on sweet bands, which faithfully follow the composer's arrangements. 1938 Sat. Evening Post 7 May 23/1 Art Hickman and the first wave of big sweet bands [were] calling the country's dance tunes. 1974 Listener 24 Oct. 532/1 Would Albert McCarthy..say that Glenn Miller's was the best dance/swing/‘sweet’ band? sweet biscuit n. a biscuit flavoured with sugar. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > biscuit > [noun] > other biscuits dorcake14.. cracknelc1440 hard breada1500 crackling1598 Naples biscuit1650 gingerbread man1686 chocolate biscuit1702 biscotin1723 sponge biscuit1736 maple biscuita1753 butter biscuit1758 nut1775 Oliver biscuit1786 funeral biscuit1790 rock biscuit?1790 ratafia1801 finger biscuit1812 Savoy drop1816 lady's finger1818 snap1819 Abernethy1830 pretzel1831 wine-biscuit1834 gingersnap1838 captain's biscuit1843 lebkuchen1847 simnel1854 sugar cookie1854 peppernut1862 McClellan pie1863 Savoy ring1866 Brown George1867 beaten biscuit1876 digestive1876 Osborne1876 Bath Oliver1878 marie1878 boer biscuit1882 charcoal biscuit1885 biscotti1886 fairing1888 snickerdoodle1889 pfeffernuss1891 zwieback1894 Nice1895 Garibaldi biscuit1896 Oswegoc1900 squashed fly1900 amaretto1905 boerebeskuit1905 Romary1905 petit beurre1906 Oswego biscuit1907 soetkoekie1910 Oreo1912 custard cream1916 Anzac1923 sweet biscuit1929 langue de chat1931 Bourbon biscuit1932 Afghan1934 flapjack1935 Florentine1936 chocolate chip cookie1938 choc chip cookie1940 Toll House cookie1940 tuile1943 pizzelle1949 black and white1967 Romany Cream1970 papri1978 1926–7 Army & Navy Stores Catal. 6/2 Assorted biscuits. A choice selection of Plain, Sweet, and Fancy kinds.] 1929 W. Faulkner Sartoris 168 Negroes lounged, skinning bananas or small florid cartons of sweet biscuits. 1941 Ration Craft 9 The present shortage of sweet biscuits is well known. 1977 Lancashire Life Feb. 19/1 Sweet biscuits were unknown until about sixty years ago. Before that the only biscuits made were ship's biscuits. † sweet-blanch n. Obsolete a dish made with the flesh of chickens and almond milk. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > fowl dishes > [noun] blancmange1377 bouce Janec1420 sweet-blanchc1430 dumpoke1698 temperade1699 biberot1706 howtowdie1728 alderman?1782 suprême de volaille1822 chicken fixings1837 paprikahendl1839 poule au pot1849 Marengo1861 paprikahuhn1870 Peking duck1874 poule au riz1882 Maryland chicken1888 chicken finger1900 arroz con pollo1901 moo goo gai pan1902 chicken à la King1905 coq au vin1915 chicken burger1933 supreme of chicken1939 cassoulet1940 chicken rice1950 piccata1963 chicken tender1969 turducken1982 Kiev1993 chimaek2012 c1430 Two Cookery-bks. 112 Sweteblanche.—Nym chikons or hennes, skald hem..& seth hem with good beofe. sweet-bone n. (also sweet-bones) dialect ‘a griskin of pork’ (Miss Baker Northampt. Gloss. 1854). ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > pork > [noun] > cuts or parts pig's footc1475 hog's foot1561 hog's cheek1573 bald-rib1598 spring1598 list1623 griskin1699 chine1712 pork griskin1725 rearing1736 pork chop?1752 hand1794 faggot1815 hog round1819 sweet-bone1826 butt1845 pig trotter1851 pork belly1863 Hodge1879 fore-end1906 fore-hock1923 1826 H. More in W. Roberts Mem. (1835) IV. 304 The spare-rib, sweet-bone, ears, and snout [of a pig]. 1969 C. Drummond Odds on Death vii. 130 Sister has some Wiltshire sweetbones done under crisp suet crust. sweet-cake n. a kind of cake made with a specially large proportion of sugar. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > cake > [noun] > a cake > other cakes honey appleeOE barley-cake1393 seed cakea1400 cake?a1425 pudding-cake?1553 manchet1562 biscuit cake1593 placent1598 poplin1600 jumbal1615 bread pudding1623 semel1643 wine-cakea1661 Shrewsbury cake1670 curd cake1675 fruitcake1687 clap-bread1691 simnel cake1699 orange-flower cake1718 banana cake1726 sweet-cake1726 torte1748 Naples cake1766 Bath cake1769 gofer1769 yeast-cake1795 nutcake1801 tipsy-cake1806 cruller1808 baba1813 lady's finger1818 coconut cake1824 mint cake1825 sices1825 cup-cake1828 batter-cake1830 buckwheat1830 Dundee seed cake1833 fat-cake1839 babka1846 wonder1848 popover1850 cream-cake1855 sly-cake1855 dripping-cake1857 lard-cake1858 puffet1860 quick cake1865 barnbrack1867 matrimony cake1871 brioche1873 Nelson cake1877 cocoa cake1883 sesame cake1883 marinade1888 mystery1889 oblietjie1890 stuffed monkey1892 Greek bread1893 Battenberg1903 Oswego cake1907 nusstorte1911 dump cake1912 Dobos Torte1915 lekach1918 buckle1935 Florentine1936 hash cake1967 space cake1984 1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. ii. iii. 65 I..sat down..to eat a piece of Sweet Cake for my Breakfast. 1825 T. Hook Sayings & Doings 2nd Ser. I. 198 The fruits, sugars, wines, creams, and sweet-cakes [after dinner]. a1881 M. Clarke in Mem. (1884) 143 He..got a big piece of sweet-cake, and put it in the pocket of his little jumper. † sweet-cheese n. Obsolete (see quot. 1688). ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > dairy produce > [noun] > milk > curds curd1378 slipc1425 wrench-milk1510 well curds1538 float-wheyc1550 ricoct1582 curdlea1591 bonny clabber1605 fleeting1611 clabber1634 yearned milk?1635 trouts1683 sweet-cheese1688 earning1744 slip curd1784 1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. 173/1 Sweet-Cheese, Fleeting strained through a fine Cloth and Sugared. sweet dreams int. a farewell to someone going to bed. ΚΠ 1908 Sears, Roebuck Catal. 198/1 Tenor Solos..Good Bye, Sweet Dreams, Good Bye. 1970 New Yorker 28 Feb. 70/2 Good night, sleep tight, sweet dreams. 1981 P. Niesewand Word of Gentleman xvii. 109 ‘I need some sleep.’.. ‘Sweet dreams, then.’ sweet Jesus int. used as an oath or exclamation (cf. Jesus n., int., and adj. Phrases 1c). ΘΚΠ the mind > language > malediction > oaths > [interjection] > religious oaths (referring to God) > referring to Jesus for Christ's sake (or sakes)eOE in (also a, o', on) Christ's nameeOE by Christ's, or His, woundsc1350 Christ's foot!c1450 by Gis1528 Jesus Christ1602 Christ1748 Christ almighty1810 jabbers1821 for Chrissakes1845 Jeez1896 jeepers1929 sweet Jesus1932 Jeezum1959 1932 W. Faulkner Light in August viii. 182 ‘Come on out,’ the blonde woman said. ‘For sweet Jesus,’ Max said. 1955 F. O' Connor Wise Blood v. 95 Oh sweet Jesus, come on! 1973 ‘D. Jordan’ Nile Green xxxiii. 157 Her voice so still, so soft, and I believed her, sweet Jesus, I believed her. sweet life n. = dolce vita n. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > sensuous pleasure > luxury or luxurious living > [noun] softnessOE voluptuositya1380 voluptuoustya1382 delicacya1393 deliciousnessa1500 volupteousness1526 niceness1540 nicety1542 wealiness1545 luxe1558 voluptibility1631 luxury1633 voluptuousness1652 volupté1712 decadence1882 gracious living1892 vie de luxe1920 good life1937 dolce vita1961 sweet life1962 1962 Sunday Express 18 Feb. 13/5 Klaus was tired of being respectable and hungered for ‘the sweet life’. 1974 M. Cecil Heroines in Love ix. 218 The sweet life was turning sour on heroines in the late 1960s. sweet-lifer n. one who leads the sweet life. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > sensuous pleasure > luxury or luxurious living > [noun] > one who lives luxuriously delicatea1382 high-liver1715 feather-bedder1952 sweet-lifer1967 1967 D. Skirrow I was following this Girl iii. 16 I've been tailing that toffee-nosed sweet-lifer. † sweet-love n. Obsolete a term of affection for a beloved person. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > terms of endearment > [noun] darlingc888 belamy?c1225 culver?c1225 dearc1230 sweetheartc1290 heartc1300 sweetc1330 honeya1375 dovec1386 jewelc1400 birdc1405 cinnamonc1405 honeycombc1405 lovec1405 wantonc1450 mulling?a1475 daisyc1485 crowdy-mowdy?a1513 honeysop?a1513 powsowdie?a1513 suckler?a1513 foolc1525 buttinga1529 whitinga1529 beautiful1534 turtle-dove1535 soula1538 heartikin1540 bully?1548 turtle1548 lamba1556 nyletc1557 sweet-lovea1560 coz1563 ding-ding1564 pugs1566 golpol1568 sparling1570 lover1573 pug1580 bulkin1582 mopsy1582 chuck1589 bonny1594 chick1594 sweetikin1596 ladybird1597 angel1598 muss1598 pinkany1599 sweetkin1599 duck1600 joy1600 sparrowc1600 sucket1605 nutting1606 chuckaby1607 tickling1607 bagpudding1608 heartling1608 chucking1609 dainty1611 flittermouse1612 honeysuckle1613 fubs1614 bawcocka1616 pretty1616 old thinga1625 bun1627 duckling1630 bulchin1633 bulch?c1640 sweetling1648 friscoa1652 ding-dongs1662 buntinga1668 cocky1680 dearie1681 chucky1683 lovey1684 machree1689 nykin1693 pinkaninny1696 nug1699 hinny1724 puss1753 pet1767 dovey1769 sweetie1778 lovey-dovey1781 lovely1791 ducky1819 toy1822 acushla1825 alanna1825 treat1825 amigo1830 honey child1832 macushla1834 cabbage1840 honey-bunch1874 angel pie1878 m'dear1887 bach1889 honey baby1895 prawn1895 hon1896 so-and-so1897 cariad1899 pumpkin1900 honey-bun1902 pussums1912 snookums1919 treasure1920 wogger1922 amico1929 sugar1930 baby cake1949 angel cake1951 lamb-chop1962 petal1974 bae2006 a1560 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Æneid viii. Y iv O husbande sweetloue most disierd. sweet mama n. U.S. slang (see quots.). ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > a lover > [noun] > female lover > black female lover sweet mama1950 1950 A. Lomax Mister Jelly Roll 19 Now these boys used to all have a sweet mama..they was what I would call, maybe a fifth-class whore. 1970 C. Major Dict. Afro-Amer. Slang 111 Sweet mama, black female lover. sweet man n. U.S. slang = sweetback n. above. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > a lover > [noun] > male lover servantc1405 specialc1425 servitorc1450 love-lad1586 young man1589 inamorato1592 swainc1592 gentleman friend1667 enamorado1677 spark1707 beau?1720 Johnny1726 man friend1736 feller1842 novio1843 soupirant1849 fella1874 man1874 fellow1878 square-pusher1890 stud1895 papa1896 lover mana1905 boyfriend1906 daddy1912 lover-boy1925 sheikh1925 sweetback1929 sweet man1942 older man1951 boyf1990 society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > prostitution > [noun] > pimping or procuring > procurer of either sex > pimp putourc1390 panderc1450 mitchera1500 apple-squire?1536 squire of dames or ladies1590 apron-squire1593 bed-broker1594 pimp1600 pippin squire1600 petticoat-monger1605 smockster1608 underputter1608 broker-between1609 squire of the placket1611 squire1612 fleshmongera1616 cock bawd1632 whiskin1632 pimp-whiskin1638 bully1675 foot pimp1690 mutton-broker1694 pimp whisk1707 flash-man1789 panderer1826 bludger1856 whoremaster1864 mack1894 lover1904 jelly bean1905 procureur1910 P.I.1928 sweetback1929 sweet man1942 nookie-bookie1943 papasan1970 1942 L. V. Berrey & M. Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang §443/5 Beau,..sweet man. 1942 L. V. Berrey & M. Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang §508/3 Pimp..sweetman. 1952 S. Selvon Brighter Sun ii. 21 Look how Ah take up meself and leave sweetman life in town. 1959 V. S. Naipaul Miguel St. xi. 118 Eddoes was a real ‘saga-boy’. This didn't mean that he wrote epic poetry. It meant that he was a ‘sweet-man’, a man of leisure, well-dressed, and keen on women. 1972 J. Maryland in T. Kochman Rappin' & Stylin' Out 211 Damn, Rev., that's some real cruel shit, suggesting a sweet man [pimp] be iced. sweet-mart n. a name for the pine-marten, as distinguished from the foulmart, foumart n., or polecat (see mart n.⁵). ΘΚΠ the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Mustelidae (weasel, marten, otter, or badger) > [noun] > genus Martes (marten) > martes martes (pine marten) pine marten1772 sweet-mart1788 baum marten1879 1788 W. Marshall Provincialisms E. Yorks. in Rural Econ. Yorks. II. 358 Sweet-mart, the marten. 1847 J. O. Halliwell Dict. Archaic & Provinc. Words II Sweet-mart, the badger. Yorksh. 1905 Athenæum 26 Aug. 262/1 Cumberland had its almost distinctive sports, such as foulmart hunting and sweetmart hunting. sweet milk n. fresh milk having its natural sweet flavour, as distinct from skimmed milk, or from ‘sour milk’, i.e. buttermilk; also attributive, as sweet-milk cheese, cheese made from unskimmed milk. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > dairy produce > [noun] > milk > buttermilk sweet milka1475 buttermilka1500 whey of butter1530 kirn-milkc1550 lap1567 churn-milk1598 whig1688 souter's brandy1790 a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sloane) (1862) 17 Take swete mylke and put in panne. 1786 R. Burns Holy Fair vii, in Poems 44 Wi sweet-milk cheese, in monie a whang. 1820 J. Hogg Welldean Hall in Tales & Sketches (1836) II. 224 That whining sweet-milk boy. 1844 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm II. 713 Hard-boiled picks of porridge, with a little sweet-milk in the dish. 1877 Encycl. Brit. VII. 649/2 Edam..gives its name to a well-known description of ‘sweetmilk’ cheese. 1895 Oracle Encycl. I. 556/1 Butter-Milk, the liquid which remains after the churning of cream or sweet-milk for the preparation of butter. sweetmouth v. slang (transitive) to flatter. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > flatter [verb (transitive)] flatter?c1225 flackera1250 slickc1250 blandishc1305 blandc1315 glozec1330 beflatter1340 curryc1394 elkena1400 glaverc1400 anointa1425 glotherc1480 losenge1480 painta1513 to hold in halsc1560 soothe1580 smooth1584 smooth1591 soothe1601 pepper1654 palp1657 smoothify1694 butter1700 asperse1702 palaver1713 blarney1834 sawder1834 soft-soap1835 to cock up1838 soft-solder1838 soother1842 behoney1845 soap1853 beslaver1861 beslobber1868 smarm1902 sugar1923 sweetmouth1948 smooth-talk1950 1948 Publ. Amer. Dial. Soc. ix. 81 Employment [by the Gullahs] of groups of words for..verbs..or other parts of speech (such as..to sweet mouth ‘to flatter’). 1950 Language 26 330 Not recorded in the Atlas but commonly considered to be of Negro origin are such metaphors as sweet-mouth ‘to flatter’ and bad~mouth ‘to curse’. 1973 J. Jones Touch of Danger xli. 238 He went on sweetmouthing me, with his slippery mean eyes. sweet music n. light instrumental music of a popular or conventional character (cf. A. 4b); also figurative, esp. in allusion to love-making. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > action of caressing > [noun] > sexual caressing > in allusion to love-making sweet music1967 society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > [noun] > other general types country music1585 water musicc1660 concert music1776 eye music1812 ballet music1813 night music1832 absolute music1856 Tafelmusik1880 Ars Antiqua1886 Ars Nova1886 early music1886 tone poetry1890 mood music1922 Gebrauchsmusik1930 shake music1935 modernistic1938 industrial1942 spasm music1943 musica reservata1944 protest music1949 night music1950 palm court music1958 title music1960 bottleneck guitar1961 rinky-tink1962 Schrammel-musik1967 sweet music1967 chutney1968 roots music1969 electronica1980 multiphonics1983 chutney soca1987 chiptune1992 1967 Guardian 28 Sept. 4/5 If pop music should be a fad that passes he sees Radio One as becoming a ‘sweet music’ station. 1970 Guardian 10 Mar. 1/3 A..choice between..pop music on Radio 1 and ‘sweet’ music on Radio 2. 1971 R. Gadney Somewhere in England xxi. 180 A small black girl..offered him ‘some sweet music’. 1977 J. Wainwright Day of Peppercorn Kill 99 [They] should be making sweet music, every night of the week. 1981 H. R. F. Keating Go West, Inspector Ghote iii. 29 Rock music, country music, sweet music, pop music—all or any of these..at the touch of a button. sweet nothings n. colloquial sentimental trivia, endearments. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > amorous love > [noun] > sentimental trivia or endearments love worda1250 sweet nothings1900 sweet talk1945 1900 Fazl-i-Husain Diary 20 May in A. Husain Fazl-i-Husain (1946) ii. 35 The sweet nothings so often talked of in the romantic descriptions. 1934 C. Lambert Music Ho! iii. 212 The blues have a certain austerity that places them far above the sweet nothings of George Gershwin. 1973 M. Amis Rachel Papers 119 Half the guests, including DeForest (after a minute of sweet-nuthins with Rachel), had wisely got the hell out as soon as dinner was over. sweet oil n. any oil of pleasant or mild taste, spec. olive oil; rape oil. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > fat or oil > [noun] > olive oil elec950 oil1221 oil d'olive1381 oil of olives1381 oil olivec1425 Seville oil1436 salad oil1559 olive oil1566 sweet oil1581 virgin's oil1611 Minorca oil1612 virgin oil1699 Lucca oil1725 Gallipoli oil1839 virgin salad oil1839 Florence-oil1858 extra-virgin1981 EVOO1993 society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > extracted or refined oil > [noun] > pleasant or sweet oil sweet oil1581 society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > extracted or refined oil > [noun] > olive oil oil1221 oil d'olive1381 oil of olives1381 oil olivec1425 olive oil1566 sweet oil1581 1581 R. Mulcaster Positions xxxiv. 121 Then were they oynted with sweete oyle. a1585 in Eng. Hist. Rev. (1914) XXIX. 519 All our wolle oyles and swete oyles. 1757 Bromfeild Eng. Nightshades 74 The red oil, produced by distillation from bitter almonds, after the sweet oil had been expressed. 1776 Pigou in Gentleman's Mag. (1792) Jan. 14/2 We found relief by rubbing the parts with sweet oil. 1857 W. A. Miller Elements Chem. III. iii. 158 If this liquid [sc. sulphethylic acid] be boiled, sweet oil of wine mingled with sulphurous acid passes over. 1867 C. L. Bloxam Chemistry 580 Salad oil, or sweet oil.., is obtained by crushing olives. 1886 Encycl. Brit. XX. 273/2 Rape oil,..known also as ‘sweet oil’, is obtained from seeds of cultivated varieties of the cruciferous genus Brassica. sweet papa n. U.S. slang (see quot. 1970). ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > love affair > [noun] > man who lavishes gifts on young woman sweet papac1923 sugar daddy1926 c1923 in W. C. Handy's Coll. Blues (?1925) 28 Ashes in my sweet pa-pa's bed So that he can't slip out. 1941 W. C. Handy Father of Blues x. 141 The sweet papa who happened to be shining around the absentee prisoner's gal at the moment. 1970 C. Major Dict. Afro-Amer. Slang 111 Sweet papa, a sugar-daddy and sweet man. † sweet-powder n. Obsolete perfumed powder used as a cosmetic. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the skin or complexion > [noun] > preparations for the skin or complexion > powders > scented damask powder?a1547 sweet-powder1573 diapasm1616 pulvilio1675 pulvila1685 foo-foo1880 talcum powder1901 dusting-powder1907 talcum1908 talc1938 1573–4 in A. Feuillerat Documents Office of Revels Queen Elizabeth (1908) 208 Sweete powder made of Musk & Amber. 1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 52. ⁋1 The Expence of Sweet Powder and Jessamine are considerably abated. 1710 C. Shadwell Fair Quaker of Deal ii. 25 He's for turning the Gun powder into Sweet-Powder, and the Iron Balls into Wash-Balls. sweet precipitate n. mercurous chloride or calomel, Hg₂Cl₂. ΚΠ 1890 Cent. Dict. at Precipitate Sweet precipitate, mercurous chlorid or calomel. sweet-spittle n. Pathology an increased secretion of saliva having a sweetish taste. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > disordered secretion > [noun] > disordered salivation ptyalism1676 sweet-spittle1817 1817 J. M. Good Physiol. Syst. Nosol. 13 Apocenosis, ptyalismus, mellitus..Sweet-spittle. sweet spot n. the point on a bat, club, racket, etc., at which it makes most effective contact with the ball; cf. meat n. 12. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > [noun] > instrument for hitting ball > parts of face1816 drive1867 meat1909 sweet spot1976 1976 National Observer (U.S.) 1 May 10/4 The sweet spot—the precise point of contact on the racket face where all the force of a swing goes into the ball without jarring the arm—was considerably farther from the center than anyone had ever suspected. 1976 Golf International 13 May 21/1 Because we use investment casting, the head weight is distributed over a wider area, increasing the sweet spot. We call this Perimeter Weighting. 1980 Esquire Mar. 78 Tennis players, of course, are accustomed to a long racquet, but they're also accustomed to a nice fluffy projectile and the luxury of a forgiving ‘sweet spot’. sweet-stuff n. sweetmeats, sweets, confectionery; also attributive and in other combinations; now frequently in plural; †also euphemistic, gin (obsolete). ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > confections or sweetmeats > [noun] confection1393 sweetmeat?a1500 junkery1509 conceit1525 banqueta1533 junketry1599 sweet1660 spice1674 knick-knack1682 confectionery1769 confiture1802 candy?1809 knick-knackery1813 mithai1824 dulce1834 sweet-stuff1835 bouchées1846 ket1979 the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > confections or sweetmeats > sweets > [noun] sweetmeat?a1500 candy1587 spice1674 lollipop1784 sweet-stuff1835 goody1853 sucks1858 pogey bait1918 the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > distilled drink > gin > [noun] bottled lightning1713 gin1713 royal bob1722 diddle1725 strike-fire1725 tittery1725 max1728 maxim1739 strip-me-naked1751 eye-water1755 sky blue1755 lightning1781 Jacky1800 ribbon1811 Daffy's elixir1821 sweet-stuff1835 tiger's milk1850 juniper1857 cream of the wilderness1858 satin1864 Twankay1900 panther1931 mother's ruin1933 needle and pin1937 1835 C. Dickens in Evening Chron. 7 Feb. 3/3 Wretched houses with..‘sweet-stuff’ manufacturers in the cellars. 1851 H. Mayhew London Labour I. 204/1 The sweet-stuff maker (I never heard them called confectioners). 1862 G. A. Sala Accepted Addr. 96 The back parlour of the little sweetstuff shop. 1908 Chambers's Jrnl. Feb. 204/1 The scent for sweetstuffs is very strongly developed in the Customs officer, and he has found sugar in such an unlikely article as blacking. 1911 J. H. Hart Cacao ii. 18 The bean may be used in the same way as almonds, and boiled to sweetstuff with sugar. 1963 Times 18 May 9/4 We teach our students the harmful effects of the consumption of sweetstuffs between meals. sweet sublimate n. now historical a supposedly sweet-tasting compound of mercury, probably consisting of calomel (mercurous chloride) and/or corrosive sublimate (mercuric chloride) with sugar of lead (lead acetate) and other impurities. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > poison > [noun] > poisonous chemicals mercury sublimy?1540 sublimate1543 sublimatum1558 sublimy1558 mercury sublimate1562 corrosive sublimate1664 sweet sublimate1664 supplement1769 Prussian acid1783 oxalic acid1788 prussic acid1788 cyanide1815 cyanuret1827 nitrobenzide1835 nitrobenzol1848 pyridine1851 nitrobenzene1852 isonitrile1871 iso-cyanide1877 1664 P. D. C. tr. N. Le Fèvre Compend. Body Chymistry II. ii. x. 207 Then shall you have that they call Mercurius dulcis, or sweet Mercury, sweet Sublimate, the sweet and mitigated Eagle, the tamed Dragon. 1725 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Œconomique Sweet Sublimate is a Corrosive Sublimate, whose Points have been qualify'd by some Preparation. 1828 S. F. Gray Operative Chemist 731 Calomel. This, which is the sweet sublimate of the old chemists, has received a number of names lately, as mild muriate of quicksilver, [etc.]. 1962 M. P. Crosland Hist. Stud. Lang. Chem. iii. 112 In the seventeenth century it was known that sweet sublimate and corrosive sublimate were both ‘mixt bodies’ containing mercury and an acid. 2009 J. M. Hightower Diagnosis Mercury v. 51 Mercuric chloride (HgCl₂), also known as corrosive or sweet sublimate, or bichloride of mercury, was once the most commonly prescribed form of mercurial medicine and antiseptic. sweet tooth n. (tooth n. 2a), a taste or liking for sweet things; also transferred and figurative. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sweetness > [noun] > sweet tooth sweet tooth1390 the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > appetite > [noun] > appetite for specific kind of food sweet tooth1390 sweetnessc1440 greasy stomach1592 1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 14 Delicacie his swete toth Hath fostred. 1580 J. Lyly Euphues & his Eng. (new ed.) f. 43^v I am glad that my Adonis hath a sweete tooth in his head. 1631 B. Jonson Staple of Newes 2nd Intermeane 65 in Wks. II I haue a sweet tooth yet. 1710 J. Addison Tatler No. 255. ⁋2 A liquorish Palate, or a sweet Tooth (as they call it). 1899 J. London Let. 29 July (1966) 45 If you're a sweet tooth you will not receive accommodation here except in the fruit line and the candy stores. 1904 P. Fountain Great North-West x. 96 Americans have the sweet-tooth highly developed. 1946 D. Thomas Deaths & Entrances 14 Till the sweet tooth of my love bit dry. 1960 Times 5 July 16/5 A symphony for sweet-tooths. sweet wine n. wine having a sweet taste (as distinguished from dry wine); wine in the manufacture of which ‘sweets’ or syrup is added. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > wine > types of wine > [noun] > sweet wine honey-teareOE sweet winec1386 bastard?c1425 dulce1601 brown bastard1609 dulce1849 vino dolce1902 vino dulce1911 vin doux1958 sticky1982 c1386 G. Chaucer Wife of Bath's Prol. 459 When I had dronke a draughte of swete wyn. 1430–1 Rolls of Parl. IV. 369/1 Every Tonne of swete Wyn..commyng in to this saide Roialme, be weye of Merchandise. 1542 A. Borde Compend. Regyment Helth xxxiv. sig. M.iii^v Swete wynes be good for them the whiche be in consumpcion. 1797 Encycl. Brit. XII. 202/1 The white of an egg, milk, and sweet-wine. 1857 W. A. Miller Elements Chem. III. 118 The liquid..acquires a ropy consistence as is sometimes observed when sweet wines are kept for a time. b. spec. in distinctive names of sweet-scented or sweet-flavoured species or varieties of plants, fruits, etc., sweet-briar n., sweet-gale n., sweet pea n., sweet-william n. sweet almond n. ΚΠ 1718 J. Quincy Pharmacopœia Officinalis ii. iv. 114 Sweet Almonds. These are of a soft, sweet, grateful Taste. † sweet ballocks n. Obsolete ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > orchids satyrionOE bollockwort?a1300 sanicle14.. bollock?a1425 martagon1548 orchis1559 dogstones1562 hare's-ballocks1562 stone1562 bollock grass1578 dog's cods1578 dog's cullions1578 double-leaf1578 fly-orchis1578 goat's cullions1578 goat's orchis1578 priest's pintle1578 twayblade1578 bee-orchis1597 bifoil1597 bird's nest1597 bird's orchis1597 butterfly orchis1597 fenny-stones1597 gelded satyrion1597 gnat satyrion1597 humble-bee orchis1597 lady's slipper1597 sweet ballocks1597 two-blade1605 cullions1611 bee-flower1626 fly-flower1640 man orchis1670 musk orchis1670 moccasin flower1680 gnat-flower1688 faham tea1728 Ophrys1754 green man orchis1762 Arethusa1764 honey flower1771 cypripedium1775 rattlesnake plantain1778 Venus's slipper1785 Adam and Eve1789 lizard orchis179. epidendrum1791 Pogonia?1801 Vanda1801 cymbidium1815 Oncidium1822 putty-root1822 Noah's Ark1826 yellow moccasin1826 gongora1827 cattleya1828 green man1828 nervine1828 stanhopea1829 dove-flower1831 catasetum1836 Odontoglossum1836 Miltonia1837 letter plant1838 spread eagle1838 letter-leaf1839 swan-plant1841 orchid1843 disa1844 masdevallia1845 Phalaenopsis1846 faham1850 Indian crocus1850 moccasin plant1850 pleione1851 dove orchis1852 nerve root1854 Holy Ghost flower1862 basket-plant1865 lizard's tongue1866 mousetail1866 Sobralia1866 swan-neck1866 swanwort1866 Indian shoe1876 odontoglot1879 wreathewort1879 moth orchid1880 rattlesnake orchid1881 dendrobe1882 dove-plant1882 Madeira orchis1882 man orchis1882 swan-flower1884 slipper-orchid1885 slipper orchis1889 mayflower1894 scorpion orchid1897 moederkappie1910 dove orchid1918 monkey orchid1925 man orchid1927 1597 J. Gerard Herball i. 169 Testiculus Odoratus... Ladie traces:..of some sweete Ballocks, sweete Cods, sweete Cullions. sweet basil n. ΚΠ 1647 H. Hexham Copious Eng. & Netherduytch Dict. (Herbs) Sweete Basill, wilde Christus oogen, ofte Gennettekens. 1820 J. Keats Isabella in Lamia & Other Poems 75 She..o'er it set Sweet Basil, which her tears kept ever wet. sweet bent n. sweet birch n. ΚΠ 1796 P. A. Nemnich Allgemeines Polyglotten-Lex. Sweet birch, Betula nigra. 1861 R. Bentley Man. Bot. ii. iii. 652 The bark of B[etula] lenta, known in the United States as Sweet Birch or Cherry Birch. sweet calabash n. ΚΠ 1796 P. A. Nemnich Allgemeines Polyglotten-Lex. Sweet calabash, Passiflora laurifolia. sweet calamus n. sweet cassava n. sweet cicely n. ΚΠ 1787–9 W. Withering Brit. Plants (1796) II. 306 Scandix odorata..Sweet Cicely..Sweet Fern. sweet clover n. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > leguminous plants > [noun] > sweet trefoil salad clover1562 old sow1855 sweet trefoil1859 sweet clover1867 1867 A. Gray Man. Bot. Northern U.S. (ed. 5) 128 Melilotus,..Melilot. Sweet Clover. sweet coltsfoot n. ΚΠ 1867 A. Gray Man. Bot. Northern U.S. (ed. 5) 227 Nardosmia, Sweet Coltsfoot. sweet gum n. (also sweet gum-tree) sweet horse-mint n. sweet locust n. ΚΠ 1819 A. L. Hillhouse tr. F. A. Michaux N. Amer. Sylva II. 137 In different parts of the United States, this species [sc. Gleditsia triacanthos] is called indifferently Sweet Locust and Honey Locust. 1863 Chambers's Encycl. Honey Locust Tree..also known as the Sweet Locust and Black Locust. sweet manioc n. ΚΠ 1863 H. W. Bates Naturalist on River Amazons II. iii. 215 A superior kind of meal is manufactured at Ega of the sweet mandioca (Manihot Aypi). sweet marjoram n. ΚΠ 1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus Amaracus..sweete [1545–52 Elyot, soote] maioram. a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) iv. v. 16 Indeed sir she was the sweete Margerom of the sallet, or rather the hearbe of grace. View more context for this quotation sweet maudlin n. sweet navew n. sweet oleander n. ΚΠ 1886 H. Yule & A. C. Burnell Hobson-Jobson Sweet Oleander,..the common oleander, Nerium odorum. sweet orange n. ΚΠ 1785 J. Woodforde Diary 19 Apr. (1926) II. 185 To a Dozen of sweet Oranges to carry home p^d 0. 1. 6. 1796 P. A. Nemnich Allgemeines Polyglotten-Lex. Sweet orange, Citrus aurantium sinense. 1861 R. Bentley Man. Bot. ii. iii. 495 The rind of the Sweet Orange is an aromatic stimulant and tonic. sweet orchis n. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > orchids > helleborine or lady's tresses lady's traces1548 orchis1578 sweet orchis1578 butterfly orchis1597 triple Lady's traces1611 goodyera1813 lady's tresses1820 1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball ii. lvi. 222 The sweete Orchis, or Ladie traces are moste commonly to be found..vpon hilles and Downes. sweet pepper-bush n. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > non-British trees or shrubs > [noun] > clethra trees clethra1779 sweet pepper-bush1814 lily-of-the-valley tree1885 sweet pepper1923 1814 O. O. Rich Synopsis Genera N. Amer. Plants 50 Clethra. Sweet Pepper-Bush. 1845 A. Wood Class-bk. Bot. ii. 233 C. alnifolia. Sweet-pepper Bush. 1901 C. T. Mohr Plant Life Alabama 652 Sweet Pepper Bush... Common in the coast plain on swampy banks of pine-barren streams. 1976 Hortus Third (L. H. Bailey Hortorium) 286/2 Sweet pepperbush... Summer to autumn. sweet pine-sap n. ΚΠ 1867 A. Gray Man. Bot. Northern U.S. (ed. 5) 304 Schweinitzia, Sweet Pine~sap. sweet pishamin n. ΚΠ 1836 J. C. Loudon Encycl. Plants (rev. ed.) 1286 Carpodinus, Sweet Pishamin..produces green flowers. sweet-smallage n. ΚΠ 1697 J. Ray in Philos. Trans. 1695–7 (Royal Soc.) 19 635 They tasted somewhat like the Root of Seleri, or Sweet Smallage. sweet sorghum n. † sweet stones n. Obsolete ΚΠ 1597 J. Gerard Herball i. 167 The first kind of Sweete stones is a small, base, and lowe plant. sweet sultan tea n. ΚΠ 1706 J. Gardiner tr. R. Rapin Of Gardens i. 34 Now larger Cyanies begin to spring, Sweet-Sultans nam'd from the Byzantine King. sweet trefoil n. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > leguminous plants > [noun] > sweet trefoil salad clover1562 old sow1855 sweet trefoil1859 sweet clover1867 1859 R. G. Mayne Expos. Lexicon Med. Sci. (1860) Sweet Trefoil, common name for the Trifolium cæruleum. sweet violet n. sweet virgin's bower n. sweet woodruff n. ΚΠ 1800 J. E. Smith Eng. Bot. XI. 755 Asperula odorata. Sweet Woodruff or Woodroof. c. Parasynthetic. See also sweet-breasted adj. at Compounds 4. Also sweet-scented adj. sweet-beamed adj. ΚΠ 1730 J. Thomson Autumn in Seasons 126 Attemper'd suns arise, Sweet-beam'd. sweet-blooded adj. ΚΠ 1859 ‘G. Eliot’ Adam Bede I. i. v. 121 Large-hearted, sweet-blooded natures that never know a narrow or a grudging thought. sweet-breathed adj. /-brɛθt/ ΚΠ 1617 W. Drummond Forth Feasting sig. A2^v Sweet-breath'd Zephyres. 1623 J. Webster Deuils Law-case i. ii O sweet-breath'd monkeys, how they grow together! 1814 W. Wordsworth Excursion vii. 343 The sweet-breathed violet of the shade. View more context for this quotation 1881 O. Wilde Poems 209 Most bounteous Spring! That cans't give increase to the sweet-breath'd kine. 1949 M. Mead Male & Female xiv. 283 Life is a race that boys and girls must run clear-eyed, sweet-breathed, well bathed. † sweet-conditioned adj. Obsolete ΚΠ 1630 P. Massinger Renegado v. ii. sig. K4 Our sweete condition'd princesse, fayre Donusa. sweet-dispositioned adj. ΚΠ 1647 W. Bridge Saints Hiding-place 30 We have a meek and sweet disposition'd Saviour. sweet-eyed adj. ΚΠ 1812 W. Tennant Anster Fair i. xxxi. 16 Sweet-ey'd lass. sweet-faced adj. ΚΠ 1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream i. ii. 80 Piramus is a sweete fac't man. a1625 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Coxcombe iii. ii, in Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Oo^v/2 Good sweet fact serving-man. 1885 ‘H. Conway’ Slings & Arrows 168 A pale, sweet-faced woman,..who was dressed as a Sister of Charity. 1981 M. Warner Joan of Arc xiii. 267 The young Joan of Arc, the sweet-faced child of hagiography. sweet-flavoured adj. ΚΠ 1952 A. G. L. Hellyer Sanders' Encycl. Gardening (ed. 22) 9 [Actinidia]purpurea, sweet-flavoured purple berries. sweet-fleshed adj. ΚΠ 1923 D. H. Lawrence Birds, Beasts & Flowers (London ed.) 41 A rock-living, sweet-fleshed sea-anemone. sweet-flowered adj. ΚΠ 1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Sequinant, the sweet-flowred Rush tearmed Squinant. † sweet-graced adj. Obsolete ΚΠ a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. xi. sig. X2^v Whom yet with a sweete-graced bitternes they blamed. sweet-leafed adj. ΚΠ 1749 W. Shenstone Irregular Ode 30 The sweet-leaft eglantine. sweet-mannered adj. ΚΠ 1887 G. M. Hopkins Further Lett. (1956) 183 The youngest boy Leo is a remarkably winning sweetmannered young fellow. sweet-minded adj. ΚΠ a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. iv. sig. Q3 The sweete minded Philoclea. sweet-natured adj. ΚΠ 1650 R. Stapleton tr. F. Strada De Bello Belgico vi. 23 A plaine and sweete-natured man. 1876 ‘G. Eliot’ Daniel Deronda IV. viii. lviii. 178 The sweet-natured, strong Rex. † sweet-numbered adj. Obsolete number n. 17a. ΚΠ 1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. ii. ii. 431 Sweet-numbred Homer. sweet-savoured adj. (cf. Middle English swote sauoured). ΚΠ 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 326/2 Swete savoured, aromaticq. a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) ii. ii. 120 That neuer words were musicke to thine eare,..That neuer meat sweet-sauour'd in thy taste. View more context for this quotation sweet-shaped adj. † sweet-smelled adj. Obsolete ΚΠ 1632 S. Rutherford Lett. (1863) I. 82 The sweetest-smelled flowers. sweet-souled adj. ΚΠ 1747 W. Shenstone Lett. (1777) xlv. 120 That sweet-souled bard Mr. James Thomson. 1790 J. Wolcot Benevolent Epist. to Sylvanus Urban in Wks. (1812) II. 262 Each sweet-soul'd Stanza. a1930 D. H. Lawrence Etruscan Places (1932) i. 12 Those pure, clean-living, sweet-souled Romans, who smashed nation after nation. † sweet-sounded adj. Obsolete ΚΠ 1659 O. Walker Some Instr. Art of Oratory 25 Words, smooth and sweeter-sounded..are to be used. sweet-tasted adj. ΚΠ 1807 T. Thomson Syst. Chem. (ed. 3) II. 74 A sweet-tasted salt, called muriate of glucina. 1913 J. Masefield Daffodil Fields 31 Cropping sweet-tasted pasture. sweet-tempered adj. ΚΠ 1632 P. Massinger & N. Field Fatall Dowry iii. sig. G4 Sweet temper'd Lord adieu. 1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones IV. xi. ii. 109 She's a sweet-tempered, good-humoured Lady. View more context for this quotation 1845 C. Dickens Chimes iv. 145 The sweetest-looking, sweetest-tempered girl, eyes ever saw. sweet-toned adj. ΚΠ 1870 W. C. Bryant tr. Homer Iliad I. ix. 274 A sweet-toned harp. sweet-tuned adj. ΚΠ 1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. ii. i. 275 The Nightingales sweet-tuned voice. 1770 H. Brooke Fool of Quality V. xvii. 227 A well known and sweet tuned voice. sweet-voiced adj. ΚΠ ?1807–8 W. Wordsworth Somnambulist 17 A Bird of plumage bright, Sweet-voiced. 1919 J. Masefield Reynard the Fox 11 John Pym..Gross and blunt-headed like a shrike. Yet sweet-voiced as a piping flute. d. With nouns, forming adjectives having the sense of parasynthetic combinations. sweet-breath n. ΚΠ 1648 R. Herrick Hesperides sig. M While sweet-breath Nimphs, attend on you this Day. e. sweet-lip n. any of several marine fishes with prominent mouths, esp. an Australian food fish, Lethrinus chrysostomus, or a brightly coloured tropical fish of the family Plectorhynchidæ. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > fish > miscellaneous types > [noun] mudfish1502 sprat1552 frogfish1598 rockfish1605 yellowtaila1622 sleeper1668 picarel1688 hogfish1735 porkfish1735 sucker1753 zebrafish1771 yellowbelly1775 white steenbras1801 stone-toter1817 stargazer1842 warehou1848 baardman1853 goatfish1864 holostome1864 spot snapper1876 suck-fish1876 mademoiselle1882 queenfish1883 cigar-fish1884 emperor fish1884 rock beauty1885 oilfish1896 aholehole1897 berrugate1898 Photoblepharon1902 sweet-lip1934 rabbitfish1941 redbait1960 the world > animals > fish > superorder Acanthopterygii (spiny fins) > order Perciformes (perches) > family Sparidae (sea-breams) > [noun] > miscellaneous types of sheep's head1676 stompneus1705 melanure1828 steentjie1893 zebra1905 sweet-lip1934 1934 T. Wood Cobbers xvii. 223 Sweet-lip, and barracouta, a slim silver sword. 1951 T. C. Roughley Fish & Fisheries Austral. (rev. ed.) 75 The best-known of the emperor breams is the sweet-lip or red-mouthed emperor. 1974 J. M. Thomson Fish of Ocean & Shore xiii. 142 The sweetlip emperor, or simply sweetlip..is highly regarded for the table. † sweet-lips n. Obsolete a delicate eater, epicure. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > eating > gastronomy > [noun] > gastronome or epicure viandera1556 sweet-lips1580 deipnosophist1581 feaster1585 epicure1586 friand1598 palatist1620 goinfre1643 palate-mana1661 palate-peoplea1661 bon-vivant1695 belly-critica1711 gourmand1758 turtle-eatera1774 connoisseur1796 gullet-fancier1805 gastrophilist1814 gastrologer1820 gastronomer1820 gastrophile1820 gourmet1820 palatician1821 gastrologist1822 gastronome1823 gastronomist1825 degustator1833 aristologist1835 opsophagist1854 gastrosoph1855 bon viveur1865 gastrosopher1894 foodist1906 foodie1980 1580 C. Hollyband Treasurie French Tong Vn friand, friolet, a licorous felow, a sweete lips. sweet-throat n. sweet-voiced. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > singing > singing voice > [adjective] > qualities of voice > having voice of specific quality well-voiced1634 sweet-breasteda1640 silvery1821 sweet-throat1870 1870 W. Morris Earthly Paradise: Pt. IV 74 The bright-billed sweet-throat bird. C2. sweet Alice n. sweet alyssum, Lobularia maritima (cf. alyssum n. 2) or Arabis alpina, another small cruciferous herb with white flowers. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > cruciferous flowers > white flowers sweet alyssum1790 milkmaid1876 snow-on-the-mountain1882 sweet Alice1886 1886 J. Britten & R. Holland Dict. Eng. Plant-names 459 Sweet Alice. Arabis alpina, L... A corruption of Sweet Alison, which name belongs more properly to Alyssum maritimum, L. 1927 V. Woolf To Lighthouse i. iv. 36 She was picking Sweet Alice on the bank. sweet alyssum n. the white-flowered annual plant Lobularia maritima (family Brassicaceae( Cruciferae)), a common bedding plant in gardens. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > cruciferous flowers > white flowers sweet alyssum1790 milkmaid1876 snow-on-the-mountain1882 sweet Alice1886 1790 Bot. Mag. 3 §́̇101 (heading) Sweet Alyssum. 1822 S. Clarke Hortus Anglicus II. 150 A. maritimum, Sweet Alyssum. 1866 J. Syme in J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. 536 The Sweet Alyssum of gardens is found in some places of Britain, but only imperfectly naturalized where escaped from gardens. 1873 H. W. Longfellow Rhyme Sir Christopher 40 A modest flower~bed thickly sown With sweet alyssum and columbine. 1934 F. S. Fitsgerald & Z. Fitzgerald Show Mr. & Mrs. F. to Number— in Jazz Age (1996) 51 We rode bicycles along the windswept causeways and stared in a dreamy daze at such phenomena as roosters scratching amidst the sweet alyssum. 2006 M. Pollan Omnivore's Dilemma ix. 165 Sweet alyssum..attracts the lacewings and syrphid flies that eat the aphids that can molest lettuces. sweet-apple n. a name for the sweet-sop n., also called sugar-apple. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular types of fruit > [noun] > tropical exotic fruit > other tropical or exotic fruits tamarind1539 guava1555 genipat1568 jack1582 genipap1613 custard apple1648 star apple1693 sweet-sop1696 breadfruit1697 sugar-apple1739 sweet-apple1760 guarri1789 ackee1792 marmalade-box1796 five-corner1826 jakkalsbessie1854 Molucca berry1861 bullock's heart1866 guava-apple1866 vegetable egg1866 Jew plum1880 the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular fruit-tree or -plant > [noun] > tropical or exotic fruit-tree or -plant > of tropical America > sweet-sop tree sweet-sop1696 water apple1696 sugar-apple1739 purple apple1754 custard tree1760 sweet-apple1760 sugar-sop1847 1760 J. Lee Introd. Bot. App. 295/1 Apple, Sweet, Annona. sweet bay n. (a) the bay laurel, Laurus nobilis; (b) in North America applied to Magnolia virginiana, also called white bay; also attributive and in combination. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > tree or shrub groups > bay-tree and allies > [noun] laure971 laurela1375 laurel-treea1375 laurya1400 Daphnec1430 bay1530 sweet bay1716 red bay1731 bay-gall1775 sweet bay laurel1858 Oregon myrtle1908 the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > cultivated or ornamental trees and shrubs > [noun] > magnolias sweet bay1716 umbrella-tree1739 swamp laurel1743 magnolia1748 tulip-tree1751 beaver-tree1756 tulip-laurel1766 champakc1770 cucumber-tree1784 mountain magnolia1785 swamp sassafras1796 laurel magnolia1806 beaver-wood1810 big laurel1810 yulan1822 chatta1834 cucumber1835 port wine magnolia1943 magnolioid1988 1716 Petiveriana i. 246 Barbadoes Sweet-Bay. 1767 Bartram's Jrnl. 29 in W. Stork Acct. E. Florida (ed. 2) On it grew great magnolia, sweet-bay, live-oak, palms. 1850 S. F. Cooper Rural Hours 476 The small Laurel Magnolia, or Sweet Bay, is found as far north as New York, in swampy grounds. 1903 Flora & Sylva 1 19/1 The Laurel Magnolia or Sweet Bay..is certainly a very handsome shrub. 1938 M. K. Rawlings Yearling xviii. 217 The sweet bay was still in bloom, filling the sink-hole with its fragrance. 1958 G. A. Petrides Field Guide Trees & Shrubs 303 Sweet~bay Magnolia... A large shrub or small tree with thick, rather leathery, elliptic leaves that are evergreen. sweet bay laurel n. = sweet bay n. (a). ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > tree or shrub groups > bay-tree and allies > [noun] laure971 laurela1375 laurel-treea1375 laurya1400 Daphnec1430 bay1530 sweet bay1716 red bay1731 bay-gall1775 sweet bay laurel1858 Oregon myrtle1908 1858 W. Baird Cycl. Nat. Sci. at Lauraceæ The common, or sweetbay laurel, Laurus nobilis. sweet-bay willow n. (also sweet-bay-leaved willow) Salix pentandra. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > tree or shrub groups > willow and allies > [noun] > other types of willow red willow1547 water willow1583 goat's willow1597 rose willow1597 sweet willow1597 French willow1601 siler1607 palm-withy1609 sallowie1610 swallowtail willow1626 willow bay1650 black willow1670 crack-willow1670 grey willow1697 water sallow1761 almond willowa1763 swallow-tailed willow1764 swamp willow1765 golden osier1772 golden willow1772 purple willow1773 sand-willow1786 goat willow1787 purple osier1797 whipcord1812 Arctic willow1818 sage-willow1846 pussy willow1851 Kilmarnock willow1854 sweet-bay willow1857 pussy1858 palm willow1869 Spaniard1871 ground-willow1875 Spanish willow1875 snap-willow1880 diamond willow1884 sandbar willow1884 pussy palm1886 creeping willow1894 bat-willow1907 cricket bat willow1907 silver willow1914 1857 A. Pratt Flowering Plants & Ferns Great Brit. V. 78 S[alix] pentandra (Sweet Bay-leaved Willow). sweet-bough n. U.S. an early variety of apple or the tree that bears it. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular fruit-tree or -plant > [noun] > apple tree > varieties of birtle-tree1483 wyde?1523 renneta1568 pearmain1597 codling tree1629 codling1651 passe-pomme1691 Rhode Island greening1795 Spitzenberg1795 tulip-apple1842 Wagener1848 sweet-bough1850 Lord Derby1862 Chinese crab1882 1850 Ann. Rep. Commissioner Patents 1849: Agric. 281 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (31st Congr., 1st Sess.: House of Representatives Executive Doc. 20, Pt. 2) VI Of summer apples, the best..are the early-harvest and early sweet~bough. 1906 Harper's Mag. Apr. 667 He halted under the sweet-bough and gave one branch a shake. sweet broom n. (a) ? some species of broom ( Cytisus or Genista); (b) a name for Scoparia dulcis (N.O. Scrophulariaceæ), also called sweet broom-weed n. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Scrophulariaceae (figwort and allies) > [noun] > sweetweed West Indian tea1728 goatweed1756 sweetweed1760 sweet broom1884 liquorice weed1889 sweet broom-weed1890 1736 N. Bailey Dict. Domesticum 554 Sweet-Broom. 1884 W. Miller Dict. Eng. Names Plants Scoparia dulcis, Sweet Broom. sweet broom-weed n. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Scrophulariaceae (figwort and allies) > [noun] > sweetweed West Indian tea1728 goatweed1756 sweetweed1760 sweet broom1884 liquorice weed1889 sweet broom-weed1890 1890 Cent. Dict. at Scoparia S[coparia] dulcis is used as a stomachic in the West Indies, and is called sweet broomweed and licorice-weed. sweet buckeye n. a yellow-flowered horse chestnut, Aesculus octandra, found in eastern North America. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > tree or shrub groups > horse-chestnut tree and allies > [noun] horse chestnut1597 poison root1712 Pavia1731 buckeye1763 buckwood1787 Ohio buckeye1810 sweet buckeye1815 chestnut1842 1815 D. Drake Nat. & Statist. View Cincinnati ii. 77 Sweet buckeye. 1943 R. Peattie Great Smokies & Blue Ridge 155 The sweet buckeye or horse chestnut is found here up to 125 feet in height. 1969 T. H. Everett Living Trees of World xxii. 224/2 The largest of the Americans is the sweet or yellow buckeye. sweet cane n. = sweet flag n. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > a grass or grasses > reedy or aquatic grasses > [noun] > sweet flag beeworteOE sweet calamusa1398 acorus?a1425 acorum1601 sweet rush1607 sweet cane1611 sweet smelling flag1640 sweet flag1790 myrtle flag1796 myrtle grass1796 flag-root1851 myrtle sedge1857 sweet sedge1857 1611 Bible (King James) Isa. xliii. 24 Thou hast bought mee no sweete cane with money. View more context for this quotation 1718 J. Quincy Pharmacopœia Officinalis ii. i. 85 Sweet-Cane..is a spicy bitterish Root. 1822 J. Campbell Trav. S. Afr.: Narr. 2nd Journey I. xx. 226 A constant succession of fresh visitants arrived, several of whom brought us presents of sweet cane. sweet chestnut n. the common or Spanish chestnut, Castanea sativa, as distinguished from the bitter inedible horse chestnut n.; also, the fruit or timber of this tree. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > edible nuts or nut-trees > [noun] > chestnut chesteine1362 castanea1398 chestnut1519 Sardian acorn1551 maroon1594 sweet chestnut1818 marron1877 Sardinian acorn1895 the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > edible nuts or nut-trees > [noun] > chestnut > chestnut tree chesteinea700 chesteine-treea1330 castanea1398 chestnut tree1535 chestnut1578 Spanish chestnut1763 sweet chestnut1818 1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian vii, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. III. 172 Large sweet chesnut-trees and beeches. 1838 J. C. Loudon Arboretum III. 1983 The term Sweet Chestnut is applied with reference to the fruit. 1909 H. J. Elwes & A. Henry Trees Great Brit. & Ireland IV. 844 The Sweet or Spanish Chestnut..is..one of the largest trees in England. 1956 Handbk. Hardwoods (Forest Products Res. Lab.) 72 Sweet chestnut bears a close resemblance to oak but is more easily worked. 1977 New Yorker 4 July 22/2 If he could, he would supplement local bounty only with sweet chestnuts and Korean pears. 1981 G. Keynes Gates of Memory xxix. 351 Nearer to us were glorious stands of trees,..sweet chestnuts hundreds of years old with twisted trunks. sweet corn n. U.S. a sweet-flavoured variety of maize. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > cereal, corn, or grain > [noun] > maize > maize plants maizea1544 Indian wheat1578 Guinea wheat1598 corn1608 sweet corn1646 Virginia wheat1651 soft corn1751 zea1760 popcorn1838 pod corn1884 pod maize1904 the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > cereal, corn, or grain > [noun] > maize > types of green cornc1450 flint corn1705 flint1802 sweet corna1817 squaw corn1823 dent corn1853 tassel-corn1883 country gentleman1892 1646 E. Hopkins Let. in Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. (1863) 4th Ser. VI. 334 Wequash Cooks brother tooke from him..2 bushell of sweet corne. 1810 T. Jefferson Garden Bk. (1944) 424 [Sowed]..Sweet or shriveled corn in the N.W. corner. a1817 T. Dwight Trav. New-Eng. & N.-Y. (1821) I. 49 At New-Haven the sweet corn may be had in full perfection for the table by successive plantings from the middle of July to the middle of November. 1909 ‘O. Henry’ Roads of Destiny xxii. 364 Cigarettes rolled with sweet corn husk were as honey to Buck's palate. 1917 G. F. Will & G. E. Hyde Corn among Indians 118 The Upper Missouri tribes prepared this ‘sweet corn’ for winter use in two ways: by boiling it in kettles, and by roasting it in fires. 1974 A. Price Other Paths to Glory ii. iii. 139 To the north..of the house there had been..a single tiny field of sweet corn. sweet fern n. a name for two plants with fern-like leaves and aromatic scent: (a) locally in England, the sweet cicely, Myrrhis odorata (N.O. Umbelliferæ); (b) in North America, the shrub Comptonia asplenifolia (N.O. Myricaceæ). ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > shrubs > myrica and allies > [noun] galec1000 Dutch myrtle1597 sweet willow1597 gow1598 sweet-gale1640 candle-tree1692 candleberry tree1731 tallow shrub1770 myrica1791 wax-tree1791 wax-plant1801 wax-myrtle1813 Comptonia1823 tallow-bush1835 wax-berry1835 sweet fern1849 bog myrtle1866 meadow fern1876 flea-wood1892 the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Umbelliferae (umbellifers) > [noun] > cicely or chervil myrrhis1548 myrrh1597 sweet cicely1597 sweet chervil1688 sweet fern1849 1849 J. H. Balfour Man. Bot. §1037 The leaves of Comptonia asplenifolia, Sweet Fern, are found..to contain peculiar glands. sweet flag n. a rush-like plant, Acorus Calamus (N.O. Araceæ or Orontiaceæ), widely distributed in the North Temperate zone, growing in water and wet places, with an aromatic odour, and having a thick creeping rootstock of a pungent aromatic flavour. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > a grass or grasses > reedy or aquatic grasses > [noun] > sweet flag beeworteOE sweet calamusa1398 acorus?a1425 acorum1601 sweet rush1607 sweet cane1611 sweet smelling flag1640 sweet flag1790 myrtle flag1796 myrtle grass1796 flag-root1851 myrtle sedge1857 sweet sedge1857 1640 J. Parkinson Theatrum Botanicum 139 This sweet smelling Flagge hath many flaggy long and narrow fresh greene leaves. 1728 R. Bradley Dict. Botanicum (at cited word) Calamus aromaticus Off. is also call'd Acorus, and in English, The sweet smelling Flag.] 1790 L. Castiglioni Viaggio negli Stati Uniti II. 185 Acorus verus..Sweet-flagg. 1796 W. Withering Arrangem. Brit. Plants (ed. 3) III. 917 Sweet Flag. 1858 P. L. Simmonds Dict. Trade Products Sweet-flag..is..employed to scent aromatic baths, perfumery, and hair-powder. sweet gum n. (also sweet gum-tree) = liquidambar n. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular tree or plant yielding useful gum or resin > [noun] > liquidambar tree sweet gum1700 copalm1775 red gum tree1839 liquidambar1843 satin walnut1879 red gum1883 1700 Baltimore Rent Rolls in Maryland Hist. Mag. (1924) 19 367 127 acre Sur[veyed]..begun at a bounded sweet gum. 1709 J. Lawson New Voy. Carolina 95 The sweet Gum-Tree, so call'd, because of the fragrant Gum it yields in the Spring-time, upon Incision of the Bark, or Wood. 1717 Petiveriana iii. 195 Sweet-gum. Because in the Spring it yeilds a fragrant Gum, upon cutting its Bark or Wood, of great use in Tetters, Scurfs, Inflammations, etc. 1856 A. Gray Man. Bot. Northern U.S. (1860) 148 Liquidambar, Sweet-Gum Tree. 1869 A. J. Evans Vashti iii. 43 The trunk of a decayed and fallen sweet-gum. 1884 W. Miller Dict. Eng. Names Plants Liquidambar styraceflua, Copalm Balsam-tree, Sweet Gumtree. 1981 A. Mitchell Gardener's Bk. Trees 101/1 For summer foliage and autumn colours the Sweet gum has few equals. sweet melon n. = spanspek n. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > fruit and vegetables > fruit or a fruit > gourd > [noun] > melon > musk melons muskmelon1573 sugar-melon1600 cantaloupe1739 rock melon1789 mango1866 sweet melon1883 spanspek1886 honeydew1916 the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular types of fruit > [noun] > gourd > melon > other types of melon melopepon1555 muskmelon1573 macock1588 sugar-melon1600 cantaloupe1739 rock cantaloupe1776 rock melon1789 nutmeg melon1811 citron1826 pie melon1857 sweet melon1883 spanspek1886 honeydew1916 pepino1922 Ogen melon1967 1883 J. Roth Man. S. Afr. Gardening 78 The Water Melons must not be ripped or cut, as required by Sweet Melons. 1970 Rand Daily Mail (Johannesburg) 28 Feb. 7/4 South Africans also speak of..‘sweet melons’. sweet milk-vetch n. Astragalus glycyphyllus, with sweet-flavoured leaves. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > leguminous plants > [noun] > milk-vetch astragalus1548 sea trefoil1548 sea trifoly1548 milk-vetch1597 liquorice vetch1640 prairie pea1848 sweet milk-vetch1860 buffalo-bean1906 1860 Chambers's Encycl. I. 504/1 The Sweet Milk-vetch, or Wild Liquorice. sweet nasturtium n. (see quot. 1712). Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines for specific purpose > preparations treating or preventing specific ailments > [noun] > for indigestion > plant-derived cardamom?c1425 sweet nasturtium1712 hydrastis1861 papain1880 1712 J. Browne tr. P. Pomet et al. Compl. Hist. Druggs I. 21 It is call'd Cardamome, or sweet Nasturtium, because it has a smell much like the Nasturtium. sweet olive n. an evergreen shrub, Osmanthus fragrans, of the family Oleaceæ, native to eastern Asia and bearing clusters of small fragrant white flowers. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > cultivated or ornamental trees and shrubs > [noun] > osmanthus Osmanthus1836 sweet olive1861 tea olive1952 1789 W. Aiton Hortus Kewensis I. 14 Sweet-scented Olive. Nat[ive] of Cochinchina, China, and Japan.] 1861 S. K. Holmes Jrnl. 15 Oct. in Brokenburn (1955) 61 Mrs. Carson gave Mamma plants of sweet olive..and purple magnolia. 1899 Scribner's Mag. 25 50/1 As gay with flowers as a girl's hat, and as fragrant of sweet-olive, citronelle, and heliotrope as her garments. 1958 S. A. Grau Hard Blue Sky iii. 122 There was..the winey odor of the sweet olive. sweet pepper n. (a) = pepper n. 2b; (b) = sweet pepperbush at pepperbush n. 2b. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > non-British trees or shrubs > [noun] > clethra trees clethra1779 sweet pepper-bush1814 lily-of-the-valley tree1885 sweet pepper1923 1923 H. C. Thompson Veg. Crops xxv. 400 Of the large-fruited, sweet peppers, Ruby King, Bell or Bullnose,..and Golden Queen are well-known varieties. 1944 E. A. Holton Yankees were like This 84 The perfume of bush honeysuckle and sweet pepper from the swamps. 1969 S. G. Harrison et al. Oxf. Bk. Food Plants 128/1 The larger-fruited kinds [of Capsicum annuum] are quite mild in taste and are known as ‘sweet peppers’. 1972 Country Life 16 Mar. 625/3 Every garden that can provide lime-free soil ought to contain a bush of the Sweet Pepper, Clethra alnifolia. sweet plum n. (a) see quot. 1796; (b) the Queensland plum, Owenia cerasifera; (c) a species of hog-plum, Spondias pleigyna. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular types of fruit > [noun] > stone fruit > plum > other types of white plumc1330 bullacea1375 myxe?1440 prunelloa1450 bullace-fruit1530 horse plum1530 plum1530 wheat-plum1538 wheaten plum1542 choke-plum1556 pear plum1573 finger plum1577 scad1577 skeg1601 merchant1602 bullace-plum1608 malacadonian1608 prune plum1613 date plum1626 mussel plum1626 amber plum1629 black plum1629 primordian1629 queen mother1629 winter crack1629 myrobalan1630 Christian1651 Monsieur's plum1658 cinnamon-plum1664 date1664 primordial1664 Orleans1674 mirabelle1706 myrobalan plum1708 Mogul1718 mussel1718 Chickasaw plum1760 blue gage1764 magnum bonum1764 golden drop1772 beach-plum1785 sweet plum1796 winesour1836 wild plum1838 quetsch1839 egg-plum1859 Victoria1860 cherry plum1866 bladder-plum1869 prune1872 sour plum1874 Carlsbad plum1885 horse-jug1886 French plum1939 the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular fruit-tree or -plant > [noun] > tropical or exotic fruit-tree or -plant > of tropical America > other American fruit-plants guava1555 anchovy pear1657 river pear1696 sour-sop tree1696 monkey apple1750 stopper-berry tree1750 sour-sop1753 chocho1756 sweet plum1796 pequi1819 Spanish plum1823 jaboticaba1824 christophene1830 Quito orange1846 pepino1850 mountain mango1861 chayote1884 Suriname cherry1895 feijoa1898 choko1902 1796 P. A. Nemnich Allgemeines Polyglotten-Lex. Sweet plumb, Prunus americana. 1874 J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. (rev. ed.) Suppl. 1324/2 Owenia cerasifera is called the Sweet Plum or Rancooran. 1889 J. H. Maiden Useful Native Plants Austral. 599 Spondias pleiogyna,..‘Sweet Plum’, or ‘Burdekin Plum’. sweet potato n. the edible tuber of a perennial vine, Ipomœa batatas, native to South America and widely cultivated elsewhere. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > fruit and vegetables > vegetables > root vegetable > [noun] > sweet potato potato1565 batata1577 potato root1583 Spanish potato1599 red batata1696 Virginia potato1715 sweet potato1750 yam1753 kumara1773 boniato1800 camote1842 Carolina potato1848 Carolina1884 mickey1936 kau kau1937 the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular vegetables > [noun] > root vegetables > sweet potato batata1577 potato root1583 red batata1696 sweet potato1750 yam1753 kumara1773 camote1842 Carolina1884 1750 J. Birket Some Remarks Voy. N. Amer. 9 They have..abundance of..the Sweet Potatoe. 1775 B. Romans Conc. Nat. Hist. E. & W. Florida 84 They cultivate..the esculent Convolvulus, (vulgo) sweet potatoes. 1832 E. Lankester Veg. Substances Food 126 The plant carried to Ireland by Captain Hawkins, in 1565, was the Spanish batata, or sweet potato. 1972 Y. Lovelock Veg. Bk. i. 233 Sweet potato is now grown throughout the tropics. 1976 M. H. Kingston Woman Warrior (1977) 79 My mother liked to look at the ducks and plan how she would dig a pond for them near the sweet potato field. sweet scabious n. Scabiosa atropurpurea; also applied to the North American Erigeron annuus (N.O. Compositæ); also E. philadelphicus. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Compositae (composite plants) > [noun] > erigeron sweet scabious1789 fleabane1813 mountain daisy1897 mare's tail1900 1789 W. Aiton Hortus Kewensis I. 137 Sweet Scabious. Nat[ive]. 1796 P. A. Nemnich Allgemeines Polyglotten-Lex. Sweet scabious, Scabiosa atropurpurea. 1828 C. S. Rafinesque Med. Flora U.S. I. 162 Erigeron Philadelphicum... Vulgar Names—Skevish, Scabish, Sweet Scabious [etc.]. 1856 A. Gray Man. Bot. Northern U.S. (1860) 198 Erigeron annuum..(Daisy Fleabane. Sweet Scabious). 1937 Range Plant Handbk. (U.S. Dept. Agric. Forest Service) W67 Annual wild-daisy (E. annuus) and Philadelphia wild-daisy, misnamed sweet scabious..are other wild-daisies with similar properties. 1976 Hortus Third (L. H. Bailey Hortorium) 1014/1 Sweet scabious..naturalized in California. sweet sedge n. = sweet flag n. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > a grass or grasses > reedy or aquatic grasses > [noun] > sweet flag beeworteOE sweet calamusa1398 acorus?a1425 acorum1601 sweet rush1607 sweet cane1611 sweet smelling flag1640 sweet flag1790 myrtle flag1796 myrtle grass1796 flag-root1851 myrtle sedge1857 sweet sedge1857 1857 A. Pratt Flowering Plants & Ferns Great Brit. V. 323 Acorus (Sweet Sedge). sweet vernal grass n. Anthoxanthum odoratum (see vernal adj. 3b). ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular fodder plants > [noun] > grasses used for hay or pasture windlestrawc1000 red grass1582 spring grass1643 sweet-grass1709 herd-grass1747 Guinea grass1756 vernal grass1762 vernal1771 Paspalum1772 buffalo grass1784 Rhode Island bent1790 red-top1792 finetop1824 kangaroo-grass1827 gamagrass1831 sweet vernal grass1839 yellow-top1839 grama1844 sesame grass1845 sacate1848 Para grass1850 Hungarian1859 alfilaria1860 sacaton1865 Mitchell grass1867 teosinte1877 Landsborough grass1883 turnip-grass1889 brown top1891 ichu1891 manna1897 Rhodes grass1903 Sudan1911 Kikuyu grass1913 never-fail1923 buffel grass1955 1839 J. Lindley School Bot. 187 Anthoxanthum..odoratum (Sweet Vernal Grass). sweet willow n. (a) = sweet-bay willow n. (see willow n.); (b) = sweet-gale n. ΚΠ 1597 J. Gerard Herball iii. 1228 Myrtus Brabantica, siue Elæagnus Cordi. Gaule, sweete Willow, or Dutch Myrtle tree. 1731 P. Miller Gardeners Dict. I. at Salix The Bay-leav'd Sweet Willow. 1776 W. Withering Bot. Arrangem. Veg. Great Brit. II. 610 Gale..Sweet Willow. Dutch Myrtle. In marshy barren ground. 1839 J. J. Audubon Ornithol. Biogr. V. 288 A heavy growth of cotton-wood, ash, and sweet-willow. 1855 A. Pratt Flowering Plants & Ferns Great Brit. V. 56 Sweet Gale, or Dutch Myrtle..is called Sweet Willow. C3. Combinations of the adverb (or in which sweet is in adverbial relation to the second element). a. With participles and participial adjectives: see also sweet-recording adj., sweet-spoken adj. at Compounds 4 and sweet-smelling adj. sweet-bleeding adj. ΚΠ 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. i. sig. A4 The Mirrhe sweete bleeding in the bitter wound. sweet-breathing adj. ΚΠ a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. v. sig. Q8^v It might seeme that Loue..was there to refreshe himselfe betweene their sweete-breathing lippes. a1822 P. B. Shelley Cyclops in Posthumous Poems (1824) 351 Pied flowers, sweet-breathing. 1856 R. A. Vaughan Hours with Mystics (1860) I. 23 The sweet-breathing air. sweet-complaining adj. ΚΠ a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) iii. ii. 85 The nights dead silence Will well become such sweet complaining grieuance. View more context for this quotation sweet-flowering adj. ΚΠ 1596 Raigne of Edward III sig. F1 Sweete flowring peace. View more context for this quotation sweet-flowing adj. ΚΠ 1721 A. Ramsay Petit. Whin-bush Club i Sweet-flowing Clyde. 1784 W. Cowper Poplar Field 12 The scene where his melody charm'd me before, Resounds with his sweet-flowing ditty no more. sweet-looking adj. ΚΠ 1845 C. Dickens Chimes iv. 145 The sweetest-looking, sweetest-tempered girl, eyes ever saw. sweet-murmuring adj. ΚΠ 1743 R. Blair Grave 8 In grateful Errors thro' the Under-wood Sweet-murmuring. † sweet savouring adj. Obsolete sweet-set adj. ΚΠ 1592 Arden of Feversham iii. v. 146 How you women can insinuate, And cleare a trespasse with your sweete set tongue! sweet-singing adj. ΚΠ a1593 C. Marlowe Hero & Leander (1598) ii. sig. Div^v Sweet singing Meremaids, sported with their loues. 1740 A. Dewes in M. Delany Autobiogr. & Corr. (1861) II. 131 Do you ever hear from sweet-singing Birch? sweet-smiling adj. ΚΠ 1673 J. Milton On Death Fair Infant viii, in Poems (new ed.) 20 Wert thou that sweet smiling Youth! sweet-sounding adj. ΚΠ 1595 W. S. Lamentable Trag. Locrine i. i. 239 Plaidst thou as sweet, on the sweet sounding lute. 1743 P. Francis & W. Dunkin tr. Horace Odes II. iv. iii. 17 Goddess of the sweet-sounding lute. 1910 W. de la Mare Three Mulla-mulgars v. 71 When you hear my sweet-sounding..song. sweet-spun adj. ΚΠ a1657 G. Daniel Trinarchodia: Henry V ccclxxx, in Poems (1878) IV. 196 Nor lov'd Court-Sweets, nor Sweet Spun Dialects. sweet-suggesting adj. ΚΠ a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) ii. vi. 7 O sweet-suggesting Loue. View more context for this quotation sweet-touched adj. ΚΠ c1602 C. Marlowe tr. Ovid Elegies iii. xi. sig. F2 Sweet toucht harp that to moue stones was able. sweet-whispered adj. ΚΠ 1843 G. P. R. James Forest Days II. x. 185 Many a sweet-whispered word was there, while all was laughter and merriment around. b. With adjectives (chiefly poetic, denoting a combination of sweetness with some other quality). Combinations of this class were much favoured by Sylvester, who has sweet-charming , sweet-piercing, sweet-rapting, sweet-sacred, sweet-sweating, sweet-warbling. sweet-bitter adj. ΚΠ 1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. vi. 195 They doo discharge On others shoulders their sweet-bitter Charge. 1690 J. Dryden Amphitryon iii. 33 The stern Goddess of sweet-bitter Cares. sweet-bright adj. sweet-chaste adj. ΚΠ 1598 R. Barnfield Remembrance Eng. Poets ii, in Encomion Lady Pecunia sig. E2^v Daniell, praised for thy sweet-chast Verse. sweet-familiar adj. ΚΠ 1865 G. M. Hopkins Poems (1967) 21 New-dated from the terms that reappear, More sweet-familiar grows my love to thee. sweet-sad adj. ΚΠ 1946 A. Hutchings in A. L. Bacharach Brit. Music xvi. 200 Parts were Arthur Blissy, and none the worse for that; parts were sweet-sad and Englysshe. 1962 R. P. Jhabvala Get Ready for Battle ii. 97 There was music blaring out of various radios, sweet-sad music played at top volume. † sweet-savouring adj. Obsolete ΚΠ 1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Ezek. xxvii. 19 Swete sauerynge spice. 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 44 Sueit sairing flouris. C4. Miscellaneous Special Combinations: sweet-and-twenty n. a Shakespearean phrase (see twenty adj. 2), misunderstood by later writers to mean ‘a sweet girl of twenty years old’. ΘΚΠ the world > people > person > young person > young woman > [noun] daughterOE maidenOE young womanOE mayc1175 burdc1225 maidc1275 wenchc1290 file1303 virginc1330 girla1375 damselc1380 young ladya1393 jilla1425 juvenclec1430 young person1438 domicellea1464 quean1488 trull1525 pulleta1533 Tib1533 kittyc1560 dell1567 gillian1573 nymph1584 winklota1586 frotion1587 yuffrouw1589 pigeon1592 tit1599 nannicock1600 muggle1608 gixy1611 infanta1611 dilla1627 tittiea1628 whimsy1631 ladykin1632 stammel1639 moggie1648 zitellaa1660 baggagea1668 miss1668 baby1684 burdie1718 demoiselle1720 queanie?1800 intombi1809 muchacha1811 jilt1816 titter1819 ragazza1827 gouge1828 craft1829 meisie1838 sheila1839 sixteenc1840 chica1843 femme1846 muffin1854 gel1857 quail1859 kitten1870 bud1880 fräulein1883 sub-debutante1887 sweet-and-twenty1887 flapper1888 jelly1889 queen1894 chick1899 pusher1902 bit of fluff1903 chicklet1905 twist and twirl1905 twist1906 head1913 sub-deb1916 tabby1916 mouse1917 tittie1918 chickie1919 wren1920 bim1922 nifty1923 quiff1923 wimp1923 bride1924 job1927 junior miss1927 hag1932 tab1932 sort1933 palone1934 brush1941 knitting1943 teenybopper1966 weeny-bopper1972 Valley Girl1982 a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) ii. iii. 50 Then come kisse me sweet and twentie . View more context for this quotation 1887 J. Ashby-Sterry Lazy Minstrel (1892) 76 I love the eyes of peerless blue, And nameless grace of Sweet-and-Twenty! 1901 G. K. Menzies Prov. Sk. (1902) 48 When one's special sweet-and-twenty Is enshrined in one's Canader on the Cher. † sweet-breasted adj. [see breast n. 5c] Obsolete sweet-voiced. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > singing > singing voice > [adjective] > qualities of voice > having voice of specific quality well-voiced1634 sweet-breasteda1640 silvery1821 sweet-throat1870 a1640 F. Beaumont et al. Loves Cure iii. i, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Rrrrr3/1 A proper man,..Sweet breasted, as the Nightingale, or Thrush. sweet-lipped adj. (also sweet-lipt) having sweet lips; usually, speaking sweetly. ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > mouth > [adjective] > lip or lips > types of babber-lippedc1400 blab-lippedc1430 blabber-lipped1483 thick-lippeda1529 blobber-lipped1593 blub1603 red-lipped1605 rose-lippeda1616 blubbered1634 sweet-lippeda1644 labrous1656 blobber1670 blubber1677 blubber-lipped1690 red-mouthed1838 blubberous1863 semihiant1873 slobber1895 labrose1905 the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > [adjective] > having pleasing speech or eloquent well-speakingOE renablec1300 fair-speakinga1398 well-tonguedc1480 honey-mouthed1539 golden-mouthed1542 sweet-mouthed1542 fine-mouthed?1549 silver-tongued1592 silver1594 gold-mouthed1595 honey-tongued1595 nectar-tongued1596 tongue-gilt1608 feather-tongueda1618 chrysostomatical1623 dulciloquent1656 sweet-spoken1716 sweet-lipped1783 chrysostomic1816 smooth-spoken1821 superfluent1822 honey-lipped1833 nice spoken1852 articulate1892 a1644 F. Quarles Solomons Recantation (1645) Soliloquy viii. 43 And Candle-light devotion, trim'd and straw'd With sweet-lipt Roses. 1783 W. Gordon tr. Livy Rom. Hist. iii. lxviii The embellishments of a sweet-lipped tribune. a1845 T. Hood Lamia v, in W. Jerdan Autobiogr. (1852) I. 273 Nay, sweet-lipp'd Silence, 'Tis now your turn to talk. sweet-mouthed adj. /-maʊðd/ †(a) fond of sweet-flavoured things, dainty; (b) speaking sweetly (usually ironically). ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sweetness > [adjective] > sweet-toothed sweet-mouthed1542 sweet-toothed1615 the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > [adjective] > having pleasing speech or eloquent well-speakingOE renablec1300 fair-speakinga1398 well-tonguedc1480 honey-mouthed1539 golden-mouthed1542 sweet-mouthed1542 fine-mouthed?1549 silver-tongued1592 silver1594 gold-mouthed1595 honey-tongued1595 nectar-tongued1596 tongue-gilt1608 feather-tongueda1618 chrysostomatical1623 dulciloquent1656 sweet-spoken1716 sweet-lipped1783 chrysostomic1816 smooth-spoken1821 superfluent1822 honey-lipped1833 nice spoken1852 articulate1892 the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > appetite > [adjective] > having (good) appetite > having appetite for specific kind of food sweet-mouthed1542 sweeta1616 sweet-toothed1615 sugary1664 1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 45 For that he was so sweete mouthed, and drouned in the voluptuousnesse of high fare. 1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Leschard, a lickorous, or sweet-mouthed slapsawce. a1627 T. Middleton & W. Rowley Spanish Gipsie (1653) ii. sig. D This cherry-lip'd, sweet-mouth'd villaine. a1722 E. Lisle Observ. Husbandry (1757) 409 Nuts, being so sweet, would make them so sweet-mouthed, that [etc.]. 1886 J. F. Maurice in Lett. fr. Donegal Pref. p. vi The class which Mr. Parnell never speaks of except as the ‘felon’ landlords, just as his sweet-mouthed friends speak of The Times. † sweet-recording adj. [record v.¹ 3.] Obsolete singing sweetly, tuneful. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > [adjective] > melodious or harmonious sweetc900 merryOE softc1230 accordanta1325 well-soundingc1350 cordant1382 sootc1385 songfula1400 melodiousa1425 sugaredc1430 well-toneda1500 tunable1504 dulcea1513 equivalenta1513 consonant?1521 harmonicala1527 harmoniousc1550 consorteda1586 Orphean1593 concentful1595 melodical1596 sweet-recording1598 tuneful1598 sirenical1599 high-tuned1603 nightingale-like1611 soundful?1615 according1626 modulaminous1637 undiscording1645 canorous1646 symphonious1652 concinnous1654 consonous1654 harmonic1667 sirenica1704 symphonial1773 concentual1782 chantant1785 Memnonian1800 melodized1807 Orphic1817 undiscordant1819 concentuous1850 fluting1852 melodic1871 well-orchestrated1872 jarless1876 tuny1885 tunesome1890 1598 E. Ford Parismus iii. sig. C2^v They heard the sound of most sweete recording Musicke, which made Dionisius wonder. 1601 R. Chester Loves Martyr 123 The sweet recording Swanne Apolloes ioy. sweet-seasoned adj. ‘seasoned’ or imbued with sweetness. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > pleasure > quality of being pleasant or pleasurable > [adjective] > honeyed, mellifluous, or luscious honeyfula1400 honeyed1435 mellifluous?a1475 sugarc1530 sweetful1589 sugary1591 honeysome1593 sweet-seasoned1609 sugar-candied1623 creamya1640 luscious1651 saccharine1841 mouth-watering1847 sugar-candyish1852 goluptious1856 yummy1899 1609 W. Shakespeare Sonnets lxxv. sig. E4^v So are you to my thoughts as food to life, Or as sweet season'd shewers are to the ground. View more context for this quotation 1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. i. 9 A bitter pleasant tast, of a sweete-seasoned sowre. sweet seventeen n. seventeen regarded as the characteristic age of prettiness and innocence in a girl; cf. sweet sixteen n. which is more common. ΘΚΠ the world > people > person > young person > young woman > [noun] > state or quality of being sweet seventeen1791 young ladyhood1843 young-womanhood1852 young ladyship1856 young ladyishness1867 damselhood1880 flapperhood1905 flapperdom1907 flapperism1909 1791 Misc. Prose & Verse 1 As fair a girl as could be seen, Was not a second less than sweet seventeen. 1855 Ld. Tennyson Brook in Maud & Other Poems 107 Claspt hands and that petitionary grace Of sweet seventeen subdued me ere she spoke. sweet sixteen n. sixteen regarded as the characteristic age of prettiness and innocence in a girl; cf. sweet seventeen n. which is less common. ΘΚΠ the world > people > person > young person > young woman > [adjective] maidenly1530 maidenlike1548 maiden1594 young-ladylike1754 sweet sixteen1826 young ladyish1832 young-womanly1836 flapperish1920 teenybop1967 the mind > attention and judgement > attractiveness > [noun] > attractive person > woman > most attractive stage sweet sixteen1826 1826 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 20 138/1 A bright-eyed, round-limbed virgin of sweet sixteen. 1898 J. Thornton (title of song) When you were sweet sixteen. 1977 Grimsby Evening Tel. 5 May 12/3 Unfortunately everybody can't be sweet 16 and there are many shops catering for the older woman. sweet-spoken adj. speaking sweetly, using pleasant language (cf. plain-spoken adj.). ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > [adjective] > having pleasing speech or eloquent well-speakingOE renablec1300 fair-speakinga1398 well-tonguedc1480 honey-mouthed1539 golden-mouthed1542 sweet-mouthed1542 fine-mouthed?1549 silver-tongued1592 silver1594 gold-mouthed1595 honey-tongued1595 nectar-tongued1596 tongue-gilt1608 feather-tongueda1618 chrysostomatical1623 dulciloquent1656 sweet-spoken1716 sweet-lipped1783 chrysostomic1816 smooth-spoken1821 superfluent1822 honey-lipped1833 nice spoken1852 articulate1892 1716 J. Addison Drummer iv. 34 You are such a sweet-spoken Man, it does one's Heart good to receive your Orders. sweet-throated adj. sweet-voiced. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [adjective] > pleasant > having pleasant voice sweet-tongued1598 well-voiced1634 sweet-throated1887 1887 J. R. Lowell Credidimus in Atlantic Monthly Feb. 251 Who knows but from our loins may spring (Long hence) some winged sweet-throated thing. 1928 W. B. Yeats tr. Sophocles King Oedipus 5 What message of disaster from that sweet-throated Zeus? sweet-tongued adj. /-tʌŋd/ having a sweet tongue or utterance, sweet-voiced, sweet-spoken. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [adjective] > pleasant > having pleasant voice sweet-tongued1598 well-voiced1634 sweet-throated1887 1598 J. Marston Certaine Satyres in Metamorph. Pigmalions Image 75 Sweet tongu'd Orpheus. a1758 Ramsay in Evergreen Contents vii Sweit tungd Scot, quha sings the welcum hame. 1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. II. v. viii. 337 Beautiful sweet-tongued Female Citizens. sweet-toothed adj. /-tuːθt/ having a ‘sweet tooth’, fond of sweet things or delicacies. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sweetness > [adjective] > sweet-toothed sweet-mouthed1542 sweet-toothed1615 the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > appetite > [adjective] > having (good) appetite > having appetite for specific kind of food sweet-mouthed1542 sweeta1616 sweet-toothed1615 sugary1664 1615 G. Markham Eng. House-wife (1668) ii. ii. 51 She must not be butter-fingred, sweet-toothed, nor faint-hearted. 1682 G. Wheler Journey into Greece ii. 203 The Turks are very sweet-tooth'd and love all Kind of sweet Meats. 1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. at Slaik Our use of the word seems indeed to have been borrowed from the nasty habits of sweet-toothed cooks. 1975 Times 31 May 7/2 The puddings, often a weakness in French restaurants from a sweet-toothed British customer's point of view. Draft additions December 2006 sweet bursaria n. a prickly Australian shrub, Bursaria spinosa (family Pittosporaceae), which has dense clusters of small, sweet-scented white flowers. ΚΠ 1914 E. E. Pescott Native Flowers Victoria 33 ‘Sweet Bursaria’..is called in many localities the ‘Christmas Bush’. 1967 N. A. Wakefield Naturalist's Diary 32 Sweet Bursaria (Bursaria spinosa) was in full bloom with its dense pyramids of small white flowers. 2005 Weekly Times (Australia) (Nexis) 16 Feb. 37 Sweet bursaria is very prickly and has often been removed on farming land but it..may help keep cockchafers at bay. Draft additions September 2008 sweet roll n. North American any of various types of sweet-tasting bread or pastry products, esp. a glazed or filled bun eaten for breakfast. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > bread > loaf > [noun] > other types of loaf white loafeOE barley loafc950 French loafc1350 pease loafc1390 penny loaf1418 jannock?a1500 household loaf1565 boon-loaf1679 farmhouse loaf1795 cottage loaf1829 potato loaf1831 sod1836 Coburg1843 sweet roll1851 stale1874 Hovis1890 Sally Lunn1901 bloomer loaf1937 wholemeal1957 baguette1958 1851 E. S. Wortley Trav. in U.S. II. v. 99 The jetty-locked Victoriana brings it in the morning for desayuno, with a most excellent sweet roll (an improvement on an English bun). 1948 Home Econ. Jrnl. Feb. 78/2 I chose menu 3 because a scrambled egg and bacon can do more for the body than a sweet roll and jelly. 2002 Backwoods Home Mag. Nov. 57/3 Use either biscuit dough or half-time spoon roll dough (with a little extra flour added so you can knead it) and make cinnamon sweet rolls or sticky buns. Draft additions January 2009 sweet vermouth n. sweetened vermouth; cf. dry vermouth n. at dry adj. and adv. Additions, Italian vermouth n. at Italian adj. and n. Special uses 1. ΚΠ 1929 Portsmouth (New Hampsh.) Herald 20 Dec. 16/4 (advt.) Italian Dry and Sweet Vermouth at Payne's. 2002 A. Phillips Prague iv. i. 290 A few drinks and a couple of dances later, immediately after she had crunched and swallowed an ice cube coated with the last remnants of her sweet vermouth, they were kissing. Draft additions March 2014 the sweet science: †(a) music, esp. regarded as technical skill which gives pleasure or enjoyment (cf. science n. 3a) (obsolete); (b) slang (also with capital initials) the sport of boxing, esp. regarded as a discipline requiring trained skill (cf. noble art n. at noble adj. and n.¹ Compounds 2, noble science n. 2b). [In sense Additions (b), apparently after the following use, later popularized by U.S. journalist A. J. Liebling (compare quot. 1956): 1824 P. Egan Boxiana IV. 53 Sweet Science of Bruising! how often has man, Twice as strong as his fellow, presumed just to lark it. ] ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > boxing > [noun] defence1549 pugilation1656 fencing1692 boxing1693 the (noble, also manly) art of self-defence1724 noble art1749 bruising1750 ring1770 noble science1778 pugilism1788 sparring1797 the sweet science1810 the fancy1820 pugilistics1820 pugnastics1830 fista1839 scrapping1891 ring-work1899 no contest1922 1810 Daughter II. xii. 171 Their musical parties were again renewed, as Lady Lionel was an enthusiast in the sweet science. 1874 Freeman's Jrnl. (Dublin) 20 Nov. 2/2 It does not follow because these and others cannot appreciate some features of the ‘sweet science’ in its later developments that they merit the sweeping imputation expressed by Lorenzo in the Merchant of Venice. 1895 G. M. Fenn Queen's Scarlet iii. 16 There were other signs about of the occupant's love of the sweet science; for there were a tuning-fork, a pitch-pipe, and a metronome on the chimney-piece. 1913 Times Lit. Supp. 20 Nov. 547/1 The ‘Sweet Science’... Mr. Lynch, a former captain of the Oxford University Boxing Club.., has written a treatise on the modern equivalent of ‘the sweet science of bruising’. 1913 Manitoba Free Press 27 Dec. (Literary section) 1/2 Being bullied by two strange boys, he tried to fight them—but without success, the two knowing too well some tricks of the ‘sweet science’. 1956 A. J. Liebling Sweet Sci. 11 When I came back from the war in 1945 I wasn't ready to write about the Sweet Science, although I continued to see fights. 2004 R. B. Parker Double Play (2005) iv. 30 There's fighting..and there's boxing. You could beat both these guys up in some alley someplace... But, you got no future in the sweet science. Draft additions June 2018 sweet shrub n. chiefly U.S. any of various deciduous shrubs of the genus Calycanthus, the flowers of which have a sweet, spicy scent; cf. Calycanthus n. ΚΠ ?1762 T. Lamboll Let. in J. Bartram Corr. (1992) 575 I send..what Shrubs could be got ready, vizt: Sweet Shrub; two Sorts Pink-Root (of wch the narrow leaf is the right Sort for Worms). 1863 Gardener's Monthly Feb. 34/1 The Sweet Shrub or Virginia Calycanthus, is one of the sweetest of all flowering shrubs; though its color is dull. 1925 Amer. Jrnl. Nursing 25 661/1 Soft bright green leaves are bursting and the air is heavy with the perfume of wild honeysuckles and sweet shrubs. 2011 W. C. Welch & G. Grant Heirloom Gardening 167 Calycanthus floridus. Sweet Shrub, Carolina Allspice, Strawberry Shrub, Sweet Bubby. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1919; most recently modified version published online June 2022). sweetv.¹ Etymology: < sweet adj.; in Old English swétan = Old High German suoȥen (Middle High German sueȥen). Now rare. 1. transitive. To make sweet, sweeten. a. literal (to the taste, smell, etc.). ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > sweetness > sweeten [verb (transitive)] sweetc1000 dulcorate?a1425 doucea1475 sugar1530 sweeten1552 condulcate1569 dulcerate?1586 nectarize1592 dulcify1599 asweeten1605 ensweeten1607 besugar1611 endulce1611 indulcate1628 besweeten1648 dulcescate1657 obdulcorate1657 edulcorate1661 the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation for table or cooking > sweetening > sweeten [verb (transitive)] sweetc1000 dulcorate?a1425 doucea1475 sweeten1552 nectarize1592 dulcify1599 asweeten1605 ensweeten1607 endulce1611 indulcate1628 dulcescate1657 obdulcorate1657 edulcorate1661 oversweeten1823 c1000 Sax. Leechd. III. 58 Nim þonne hunig be dæle & swet þone drænc. c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 1649 Þe sallt. Þatt ure mete sweteþ. c1440 J. Capgrave Life St. Katherine v. 1959 It longeth to flowres swhiche lycoure for to swete. 1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 3^v Hounger is the best sauce..Because the same bothe sweeteth all thynges, and also is a thyng of no coste ne charge. 1545 T. Raynald tr. E. Roesslin Byrth of Mankynde iii. sig. U.vii With fayre water fyrste soden and sweted with sugre. 1580 T. Newton Approoued Med. f. 24 The Nutmegge..stayeth vomittes, & sweeteth the Breathe. 1604 M. Drayton Owle sig. B2 Sweetning her nest, and purging it of Dong. 1622 G. Wither Faire-virtue sig. D5^v The mornings dewie roses: That..Cast perfumes that sweet the Aire. 1765 Proc. Gen. Court Martial on Lieut. Gov. P. Thicknesse, etc. 49 It is the Lieutenant-Governor's Orders that the soldiers in Garrison sweet and clean the parade..twice a week. 1896 Godey's Mag. Feb. 173 When..pine-woods sweet the air. b. figurative (to the mind, feelings, etc.). ΚΠ OE Cynewulf Juliana 525 He mec feran het, þeoden of þystrum, þæt ic þe sceolde synne swetan. 1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes Erasm. Pref. What thyng better sweetteth y^e endityng of Marcus Tullius? 1597 N. Breton Auspicante Jehoua f. 25^v Beeing clensed from my sinne..& sweeted in my soule, by the oile of thy grace. 1601 J. Marston et al. Iacke Drums Entertainm. ii. sig. C3 I haue a thankfull heart, Tho not a glorious speech to sweet my thankes. 1610 Bible (Douay) II. Ecclus. xxvii. 26 In the sight of thyne eyes he will sweete his mouth. a1626 N. Breton in Daffodils & Primroses 14/2 in Wks. (1879) I Queene of suche powre As sweeteth euery sowre. 2. To affect in a sweet or pleasant way; to give pleasure to, delight, gratify. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > pleasure > quality of being pleasant or pleasurable > please or give pleasure to [verb (transitive)] i-quemec893 ywortheOE queemeOE likeOE likeOE paya1200 gamec1225 lustc1230 apaya1250 savoura1300 feastc1300 comfort1303 glew1303 pleasec1350 ticklec1386 feedc1400 agreea1413 agreec1425 emplessc1450 gree1468 applease1470 complaire1477 enjoy1485 warm1526 to claw the ears1549 content1552 pleasure1556 oblect?1567 relish1567 gratify1569 sweeta1575 promerit1582 tinkle1582 tastea1586 aggrate1590 gratulatea1592 greeta1592 grace1595 arride1600 complease1604 honey1604 agrade1611 oblectate1611 oblige1652 placentiate1694 flatter1695 to shine up to1882 fancy- a1575 N. Harpsfield Treat. Divorce Henry VIII (1878) (modernized text) 292 To sweet the people's ears with pleasant words [he] told them [etc.]. 1602 J. Marston Antonios Reuenge iii. iii. sig. F2 Heauens tones Strike not such musick to immortall soules, As your accordance sweetes my breast withall. 1652 Liber Patris Sapientiæ in E. Ashmole Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum 196 In thyne owne howse thow maist well gett A good Morsell of meat thy mouth to sweet. 1879 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Jan. 58 [West Indian Negro] You will hear of something that will sweet you greatly. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1919; most recently modified version published online December 2019). † sweetv.² Etymology: Echoic: compare sweet-sweet n. Obsolete. rare. intransitive. To pipe, chirp, or twitter, as a bird. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > birds > sound or bird defined by > [verb (intransitive)] > chirp or twitter chirmOE chattera1250 janglea1300 jargon?a1366 chirkc1386 chirtc1386 chitterc1386 twittera1387 chirpc1440 yipc1440 channerc1480 quitter1513 chirrup1579 chipper1593 pip1598 gingreate1623 chita1639 sweet1677 shatter17.. swee-swee1839 weet-weet1845 cheet1855 tweet1856 twiddle1863 weet1866 1677 N. Cox Gentleman's Recreation (ed. 2) iii. 57 When you have so tamed them [sc. captured nightingales] that they begin to Cur and Sweet with chearfulness. 1677 N. Cox Gentleman's Recreation (ed. 2) iii. 57 Those Birds that are long a feeding, and make no Curring nor Sweeting. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1919; most recently modified version published online March 2021). < n.a1300adj.adv.c825v.¹OEv.²1677
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sweetn.

Compounds

sweetadj.adv.

Compounds

Draft additions December 2006

Draft additions September 2008

Draft additions January 2009

Draft additions March 2014

Draft additions June 2018

sweetv.1

† sweetv.2

sweetv.¹

† sweetv.²