Pa. t. and pa. pple. stung. Forms: Inf. 1 stingan, stincgan, 3 stincgen, 3–6 stingen, 4–5 styngen, -yn, 3–6 stinge, 4–6 stynge, 5 styngge, 6 styng, 3– sting. Imper. sing. 3 sting, stink. Pa. t. 1–7, 8–9 dial. stang, 3–6 stong, (5 stoong), 6– stung; pl. 1 stungon, 2–3 Orm. stungenn, 3 stounge(n, 3–4 stungen, 3–5 stonge, stongen; weak 6–7, 9 dial. stinged, 9 dial. stunged. Pa. Subj. 3rd sing. 2–3 stunge. Pa. pple. 1–4 stungen, 2–3 istungen, Orm. -stungenn, 3 istunge, 4–5 stungyn, 4–6 stunge, 6– stung; 3–5 ystonge(n, istonge, (3 istounge, 4 ystonnge, stoungen), 3–6 stongen, (4 stangen, 5 stonken), 6 stonge, stongue, stoung, 6–7 stong; weak 5–6 stynged, -yd, 6–7, 9 dial. stinged. [OE. stingan str. vb. corresponds to ON. stinga, pa. t. stakk, pl. stungu, pa. pple. stungenn (Sw., Norw. stinga, Da. stinge) to stick, stab, pierce, f. Teut. root *steŋg- : *staŋg- : *stuŋg- to pierce, whence STANG sb.1 and v.1 (A Gothic imperative us-stagg, occurring only once, is commonly regarded as a mistake for *us-stigg, and as belonging to the verb = OE. stingan; this, however, is not certain, as the Goth. vb. may have been of the reduplicating conjugation, with pres.-stem from the a grade of the root.)
The pre-Teut. root *steŋgh-, according to some scholars, is found in Gr. στάχυς (:—*stŋghus) ear of corn.]
† 1. trans. To pierce with a sharp-pointed weapon or instrument. (Cf. THROUGH-STING v.) Phr. to sting to death. Obs.
993. Battle of Maldon, 128. He mid gare stang wlancne wicing.
c. 1205. Lay., 27597. Boccus mid his spere stronge Bedver hafde istunge.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 26018. Wit thorn, glaiue, nail,… Wit quilk þat crist for us was stongen.
c. 1315. Shoreham, II. 116. A kniȝt wyþ one scharpe spere Stang hyne iþe ryȝt syde.
13[?]. K. Alis., 3717 (Laud MS.). He … smyteþ a Duk arabian … And to þe deþ haþ hym stunge.
c. 1394. P. Pl. Crede, 553. Þei ben y-sewed wiþ whiȝt silk & semes full queynte, Y-stongen wiþ stiches þat stareþ as siluer.
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 5000. Thurgh the bodie he him stoong.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 290/2. Lawncyn, or stynge wythe a spere, or blode yryne, lanceo.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XXI. x. 855. There was laementacyon as they had be stungyn wyth sperys.
2. ‘To pierce or wound with a point darted out, as that of wasps or scorpions’ (J.). Said also of venomous serpents and some other animals which inflict sharp or poisonous wounds. Phr. to sting to death; also to sting to the quick (now rare in literal sense: see 5).
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxi. § 2. Swa swa seo beo sceal losian þonne heo hwæt irringa stingð.
c. 1200. Ormin, 17441. Þa neddress þatt stungenn þe menn.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 3896. Ðor-fore hem cam wrim-kin among, ðat hem wel bitterlike stong.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., 206/232. Þe Crapoudes … stoungen heom þoruȝ heore heortene with heore foule wrottes grete.
13[?]. Seuyn Sag. (W.), 759. The adder so the grehound stang.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XXI. iv. 845. An adder … stonge a knyght on the foot & whan the knyght felte hym stongen [etc.].
1530. Palsgr., 736/1. I wene this adder hath styngyd me.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, V. xxv. 584. Good to be dronken of them which are stongue with Bees and Waspes.
1587. R. Crompton, Short Decl. End Traytors, D iij b. Some times they were stinged to death, with fierie Serpents of straunge kind.
1630. True Trav. John Smith, xxvii. 58. Stung neere to death with a most poysoned taile of a fish called Stingray.
c. 1662. in Verney Mem. (1907), II. 262. Little flyes which sting our hands and faces.
1726. [see QUICK sb.1 4].
1849. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., II. 76. Stung by a wasp.
1878. Hardy, Ret. Native, IV. vii. Stung by an adder.
absol. a. 1225. Ancr. R., 206. Þe scorpiun … stingeð mid te teile.
c. 1394. P. Pl. Crede, 648. Þer is no waspe in þis werlde þat will wilfulloker styngen.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., III. ii. 73. With doubler tongue Then thine (thou serpent) neuer Adder stung.
1895. ‘Percy Hemingway,’ Out of Egypt, II. 188. He flung the truth from him as one might fling a viper that had stung.
b. To insert (venom) by stinging. nonce-use.
1648. Winyard, Midsummer-Moon, 2. His skull is a meer nest of hornets, which sting into him their own waspishnesse.
c. transf. and fig. To inflict a sharp or mortal hurt upon. (Cf. sense 1.)
a. 1400. St. Alexius, 1017 (MS. Laud 622). Deþ! why nyltou me stynge?
c. 1495. Epitaph Dk. Bedford, in Skelton’s Wks. (1843), II. 392. Thou, dolorous Deth, to the herte hast him stynged [rhymes with reuenged].
1559. Mirr. Mag., Henry Percy, iv. I had a son which so the Scottes did sting, That being yong, and but a very spring Syr Henry Hotspur they gaue him to name.
a. 1653. Binning, Sinner’s Sanct., xxviii. Wks. (1735), 313. He suffered Death to sting him, and by this hath taken the Sting from it.
1878. Jefferies, Gamekeeper at Home, ix. 194. Two fired, ‘stinging’ one man in the leg.
1883. Daily News, 20 Sept., 6/7. The little vessel … taking her chance of stinging or demoralising the enemy.
† d. slang. To rob or cheat. Obs.
1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict., Sting, to rob or defraud a person or place is called stinging them, as, that cove is too fly; he has been stung before; meaning that man is upon his guard; he has already been trick’d.
1823. Egan, Grose’s Dict. Vulgar T.
3. Of certain plants, etc.: To produce by contact a kind of rash or inflammation, accompanied with a burning sensation and itching, in (a person’s skin). Also absol. (cf. STINGING ppl. a.).
1548. Elyot’s Dict., s.v. Compungo, Ye must beware that he bee not stounge with a nettle.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Compungo, He is stinged with a nettel.
1583. Melbancke, Philotimus, C iij. Play with the nettle neuer soe nimbly & it will sting thee.
1665. G. Harvey, Disc. Plague (1673), 133. A pricking of the intire skin, as if stung with Nettles.
1845. Darwin, Voy. Nat., xx. (1879), 464. I was a good deal surprised by finding two species of coral … possessed of the power of stinging.
1882. J. Smith, Dict. Pop. Names Plants, 392. Lobed leaves, covered … with stiff hairs,… which sting fearfully.
1898. Eva C. E. Lückes, Gen. Nursing, x. (1900), 129. The discomfort of the mustard stinging in little patches is thus prevented.
b. refl. To get stung. colloq.
1663. Tuke, Adv. Five Hours, I. 14. I’ve touch’d a Nettle, and have stung my self.
4. transf. To affect with a tingling pain, a burning sensation, or the like.
1615. Chapman, Odyss., XIII. 128. As … foure braue horse Before a Chariot, stung into their course With feruent lashes of the smarting Scourge.
a. 1628. F. Grevil, Life Sidney, xii. (1652), 149. He judiciously observing the pangs his wound stang him with by fits.
1853. ‘C. Bede,’ Verdant Green, I. xi. His whole person put in chancery, stung, bruised, [etc.].
1878. C. Stanford, Symb. Christ, vii. 186. When stung by a spark of fire we start in agony.
b. absol. (Cf. STINGING ppl. a.)
1735. Somerville, Chase, IV. 423. With quick Sensation now The fuming Vapour stings.
1881. Miss Yonge, Lads & Lasses Langley, ii. 64. ‘Well, it don’t sting like the other,’ said Frank,… as if he thought stinging a good quality in beer.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, xxxix. He felt the curling lash … come stinging round his body.
5. fig. To affect with a sudden sharp mental pain or an access of painful emotion or irritation; to drive to or into (rage, madness, etc.) by some sharp passion or vexation; to goad or stimulate to or into (action).
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pard. T., 85. Thanne wol I stynge hym with my tonge smerte.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 667. Oft storbis me þi statour & stingis me ȝerne Þat þi personale proporcion sa party is to myne.
1537. Starkey, Lett. to the King, in Life & Lett. (1878), p. l. The dethe of them wych suffryd in the cause hathe so stonge hys hart.
1600. Weakest goeth to Wall, B 4. I am so stung with this indignitie.
a. 1602. W. Perkins, Cases Consc. (1619), 64. Their great and capitall sins, that stinged and wounded their consciences.
1700. Dryden, Pal. & Arc., 234. Scarce had he seen, but, seiz’d with sudden Smart, Stung to the Quick, he felt it at his Heart.
1726. [see QUICK sb.1 4].
1766. Goldsm., Vic. W., xxiv. Little villany can at any time get within the soul, and sting it into rage.
1769. Junius Lett., xxix. 133. A man may be quite indifferent about one part of a charge, yet severely stung with another.
1787. Generous Attachment, I. 136. Mrs. Penelope … stung with curiosity, came in.
1836. Penny Cycl., V. 290/1. Stung to madness by defeat.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. V. vii. This poor Legislative, spurred and stung into action by a whole France.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vii. II. 224. The jurymen themselves were stung by remorse when they thought over what they had done.
1864. Burton, Scot Abr., I. iv. 177. Mary stung the dowager occasionally with her sarcastic tongue.
1891. F. H. Williams, Âtman, vi. 296. The torrent of his thoughts and fears … stinging him to effort.
absol. 1725. Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., IV. ii. (1769), 77. The spleen, tint honour, and affronted pride, Stang like the sharpest goads in gentry’s side.
1748. Johnson, Van. Hum. Wishes, 119. Remember’d folly stings.
1859. Boyd, Recreat. Country Parson, vi. 211. Further brooding over the subject would only vex and sting and do no good.
6. intr. To feel sharp pain or distress; to smart. Of a wound or sore: To shoot or throb with pain.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xxxi. The groans of a person stinging under defeat.
1856. P. Thompson, Hist. Boston, 725. Stang, or Sting (to).—To throb, with great pain.
1912. D. L. Dorroh, in 19th Cent., Nov., 1015. The West [of U.S.A.] was stinging with want, men were actually hungry, and these statesmen turned fiercely against the financial East, the South’s North.
