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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
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(Swetenes,) Swetnes, Sweitnes(s, n. Also: suet(e)nes, sueitnes, sueiteness, sweetnesse. [ME and e.m.E. swetnesse (c1220), swetenesse (Chaucer), suetnes (Cursor M.), sweetnes (1555), OE swétnes.]

1. The quality of being sweet to the taste. Also fig. c1420 Ratis R. 190.
The taist of manis mouth That mais defferens and departing Betuex suetnes and vthir thinge c1450 Cr. Deyng 135.
For swetnes is the bettir knawing, at swetnes [? erron. for sournes] has ben befor taistyt 1456 Hay II 136/4.
Ane unce weight of rasins of gude rypenes and suetenes c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 443.
The beis, deand, tynis the suetnes of the hwny a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1347 (Harl.).
And as the modir fra mylk spaynand the chyld, With sum sour sals hir pape scho will ourplant, The barne refus sic suetenes sa oursyld 1494 Loutfut MS 33a.
He … puttis na thing in his vame to lif apon bot the transquillite of the suetnes of wattir 1596 Dalr. I 31/31.
Thair fleshe of a meruellous sueitnes, of a woundirful tendirnesfig. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1460 (Asl.).
Suetnes is soure & mirth is bot murnyng a1570-86 Dunb. in Maitl. F. 340/81.
How nane seruis to haue sweitnes That never taistit bittirnes a1599 Rollock Wks. I 433.
It is true the estait of grace in Christ hes ane sweitnes with it … but luik that the sweitnes of it blunt na sa thy taist, that in the mein tyrme thou lose al sense of thy former misery

b. Something that has a sweet taste; sweet-tasting nourishment. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Ep. Ald Test. xii 18.
Montanis sal drop suetnes, and litil hillis sal flow with milk

2. The quality of being sweet-smelling or fragrant, passing into freshness, wholesomeness. ?1438 Alex. ii 2501.
In Venus chalmer, full of sweitnes, With flouris spred and with cypres c1400 Troy-bk. i 260.
Byrdes … That thidderward maid thar repare For suetnes of that nobile ayre

3. The quality of being pleasant to the ear; melodiousness, mellifluousness. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2254.
Thai leif all vthire besynes, So tham emplesit that swetnes [sc. of mermaids' singing] a1500 Henr. Orph. 257.
Throw swetnes of the sound The dog slepit 1556 Knox IV 224.
The serpentis wha doith stop hir eares when sche begyneth to heir … any man sing, lest that be the sueitnes of the same [etc.]

4. Pleasantness of aspect; pleasing outward appearance. 1528 Lynd. Dreme 80.
I met dame Flora, in dule weid dissagysit … With stalwart stormes hir sweitnes wes suprisit 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 49.
The sweitness of the country and the common civility of the inhabitants

5. The quality of being pleasurable to the mind or feelings; delightfulness, charm. a1497, 15.. Gray MS iv 37.
My wyne ȝard I planntit thé [sc. Mankind] Full of gude sawr and suetenes Arundel MS 247/248.
Grant at thame all that worschipis that name … thai mot haue … the sueitnes of thy haly consolacioun 1588 King Cat. App. 30.
O maist sueit breade, hail the roof of myne hart, that I may teaste the sueitnes of thy loue 1596 Dalr. I 251/3.
Adamanus … sa singular in the sueitnes of preicheng 1600-1610 Melvill 567.
Evirie man thought thai wer beginning of new to tast againe of the sueiteness of the auld fridomes 1611-57 Mure Sonn. vi 9.
All loue, all joy, all sueitnes, all delight, The heawins into thoise angel's eyes haue plac'd

b. (A source or occasion of) delight or pleasure. c1420 Ratis R. 1372.
As the swetnes of vynnyng May maist emples to thar ȝarnynge a1450 Fifteen Ois 175.
O Jesu, our hertlie sweitnes, … For the bitternes of the gall Thow taistit mengit with asall a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1342.
Applye the plaster of pennans penitrant The rageand swetnes of lustis sensuale 1490 Irland Mir. I 45/30.
Ane merwalus sueitnes and sauour that liftis thé aboue all waurdly thingis 1490 Irland Mir. III 16/21.
The grace that is gevin in this sacrament [sc. of confirmation] causis the man to haue mar suetnes and dilectacioun in Jhesu 1533 Bell. Livy I 117/8.
The said pepill war sa tane with the sweitnes of the eschetis & gudis [L. dulcedine privati commodi] falling to thame be ythand slauchter of thare nobillis

6. Affectionate tenderness and consideration, loving-kindness; gentleness, mildness (of manner). ?1438 Alex. ii 6573.
He fand na doggitnes In Cassamus, bot all sueitnes ?1438 Alex. ii 9244.
The gude [soldiers], in quhom bounte Wes … inuyroned with sueitnes, Eschewit thare thair hardynes 1456 Hay II 76/19.
Governe thame in all gudelynes with clemence benignitee and suetenes 1490 Irland Mir. III 17/5.
The grace of confirmacioun exaltis the haly name of Jhesu and causis it to be resauit with all sueitnes honour and beneuolens 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1293.
Sum gratious sweitnes in my breist imprent Til mak the heirars bowsum and attent c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 103/15.
Gladethe thoue queyne of Scottis regioun … O hevin in erthe of ferlifull suetnes 1596 Dalr. I 307/11.
Of his nerrest freindis he tuik sik feir, that chaingeng the sueitnes of his nature his nobles he … slew appinlye 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. viii 15.
In such a diuin creatour Quhose sueitnes And meiknes Exceids the bounds of natour 1622-6 Bisset I 111/14.
To bestow … the meane sweitnes of thair maist humill … endevoiris 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 98.
This George wes adorned with such excellent sueitnes of manners a1658 Durham Clavis Cantici 298.
A comely, beautiful sweetnesse that lusters and shines in him