stynken

Middle English

Alternative forms

• stynkkyn, stenke, styngke, stynke, stinken

Etymology

From Old English stincan.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈstinkən/

Verb

stynken

1. To emit a smell or stench; to stink (almost always an unpleasant smell)
2. To be morally indefensible or wrong; to be totally detestable or loathable.
3. (rare) To (be able to) detect or discern a displeasing scent or smell.
4. (rare) To produce or create a displeasing scent, stench or smell.

Usage notes

In Northern Middle English, this verb is sometimes weak; this is not present in other dialects.

Conjugation

Conjugation of stynken (strong class 3)

infinitive	(to) stynken, stynke
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	stynke	stank
2nd-person singular	stynkest	stunke, stank
3rd-person singular	stynketh	stank
subjunctive singular	stynke	stunke1
imperative singular		—
plural2	stynken, stynke	stunken, stunke
imperative plural	stynketh, stynke	—
participles	stynkynge, stynkende	stunken, stunke, ystunken, ystunke

¹Replaced by the indicative in later Middle English.
²Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Related terms

• stynk
• stynkynge

Descendants

• Scots: stink
• English: stink

References

• “stinken, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-10-27.