swincan

From Proto-Germanic *swinkaną (“to swing, bend”), from Proto-Indo-European *sweng-, *swenk- (“to bend, swing, swivel”). A parallel form to swingan.

• IPA^(key): /ˈswin.kɑn/, [ˈswiŋ.kɑn]

swincan

1. to work hard: toil, labour
   • late 9th century, King Alfred's translation of Boethius' The Consolation of Philosophy

     Nū ðū þæt swā openlīce onġiten hæfst, ne þearfe ic nū nauht swīþe ymbe þ swincan þæt ic þē mā be gode recce.

     Since thou hast so clearly understood this, I need not now greatly labour in order that I may instruct thee further concerning good;...

2. to strive
   • late 10th century, Ælfric, "Saint George, Martyr"

     Nāst þū lā Geori þæt ūre godas swincað mid þē and ġit hī synd ġeþyldiġe þæt hī þe miltsion. Nū lǣre ic ðē swā swā lēofne sunu þæt ðū þæra cristenra lāre forlǣte mid ealle and tō mīnum rǣde hraðe ġebūge swā þæt ðū offriġe þām ārwurðan Appoline and þū mycelne wurðmynt miht swā beġitan.

     Knowest thou not, O George, that our gods are striving with thee, and even yet they are patient, that they may pity thee; now I exhort thee, as a beloved son, that thou altogether quit the Christians' doctrine, and quickly incline to my counsel, so that thou sacrifice to the venerable Apollo, and thou mayest so obtain great honour.'

• beswincan
• ġeswincan

• swinc

• Middle English: swinken
  • English: swink