swynken

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Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Old English swincan (“to labour”)

Pronunciation

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)
    • , →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
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