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.
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].
c. 1000. in Cockayne, Narrat. Angl. (1861), 40. Hu se eadeʓa margareta ʓeþrowade … & þurh þæt ʓeswenc to ece reste becom.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 179. On sore eche we hider cumen. On swunche we here wunien. In wowe we henne witeð.
c. 1290. St. Brendan, 623, in S. Eng. Leg., 237. A Monek liuez muche bi swunche [v.rr. swench, swinche] of mannes honde.
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.
