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
- 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?]
- Or work with his hands, and labour,
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.
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