Obs. Forms: 1 suoenc, suenc, (ʓe)swenc, 1–3 swench, 3–4 suench, swunch. [OE. swenc (also ʓe-):—*swaŋki-, f. swaŋk-: cf. next and SWINCH. For the variant swunch cf. STENCH sb.] In OE., affliction, trial; in ME., labor, toil.

1

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Luke xxii. 28. In temtationibus meis, in suoenccum [Rushw. swencum] minum. Ibid., xxiv. 20. In damnationem mortis, in niðrung vel in suoenc deaðes [Rushw. in swenche vel costunge deoðes].

2

c. 1000.  in Cockayne, Narrat. Angl. (1861), 40. Hu se eadeʓa margareta ʓeþrowade … & þurh þæt ʓeswenc to ece reste becom.

3

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 179. On sore eche we hider cumen. On swunche we here wunien. In wowe we henne witeð.

4

c. 1290.  St. Brendan, 623, in S. Eng. Leg., 237. A Monek liuez muche bi swunche [v.rr. swench, swinche] of mannes honde.

5

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 962. To ȝiue hom to libbe by bi suench [v.rr. swinch, swynke] of hor honde. Ibid., 4810. Alle leuede bi hor suench.

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