swoon
/swuːn/
verb
Origin
Old English
swōgan — to sound, sough, or succumb; later associated with the sense of collapse
Overview
Meaning Now
- to faint from extreme emotion, exhaustion, or physical distress
- to be overwhelmed with joy, admiration, or ecstasy
Literal older meaning
to collapse or vanish
Language path
Old English → Middle English → English
Earliest form
swounen
Earliest period
12th century
Journey
The word originally shared roots with 'sough' (the sound of wind). In Middle English, the meaning shifted from the perception of sound to the act of collapsing or fainting, likely influenced by the figurative sense of 'sighing' until one loses consciousness.
Evolution
- Old English
swōgan
“to sound, to sigh, or to move through air”
Original sense related to the sound of wind
- Middle English
swounen
“to faint or lose consciousness”
- Early Modern English
swoon
“a state of faintness”
Connections
Word parts
swoon
root
to collapse
Related across languages
Old Frisian
swuga
to sigh or groan
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Related to swoon
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.