swynken

Middle English

Alternative forms

• squinke, squynke, sqwynk, suinc, suink, suinke, suync, swenke, zuynke
• sȝink, swince, swinnkenn (Early Middle English)

Etymology

From Old English swincan (“to labour”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈswinkən/

Verb

swynken

1. to labour, to work
   • c. 1370–1390, [William Langland], “(please specify the passus number)”, in The Vision of Pierce Plowman [...], London: […] Roberte Crowley, […], published 1550, →OCLC:

     Heremites on an heep · with hoked staues,
     Wenten to Walsyngham · and here wenches after;
     Grete lobyes and longe · that loth were to swynke,
     Clotheden hem in copis · to be knowen fram othere;
     And shopen hem heremites · here ese to haue.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • [1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “Here Bygynneth the Book of the Tales of Caunt́burẏ”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D) (in Middle English), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio iv, recto:

     Or swynken with his handes, and laboure,
     As Austyn bit? How shal the world be served?

     Or work with his hands, and labour,
     As Augustine commands? How shall the world be served?]

Conjugation

Conjugation of swynken (strong class 3 or weak in -ed)

infinitive	(to) swinken, swinke
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	swinke	swank, swonk, swunk, swinked
2nd-person singular	swinkest	swonke, swunke, swank, swonk, swunk, swinkedest
3rd-person singular	swinketh	swank, swonk, swunk, swinked
subjunctive singular	swinke	swonke1, swunke1, swinked1
imperative singular		—
plural2	swinken, swinke	swonken, swonke, swunken, swunke, swinkeden, swinkede
imperative plural	swinketh, swinke	—
participles	swinkynge, swinkende	(y)swonken, (y)swonke, (y)swunken, (y)swunke, (y)swinked

¹Replaced by the indicative in later Middle English.
²Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Descendants

• English: swink
• Scots: swink