Middle English Dictionary Entry
stinken v.
Entry Info
| Forms | stinken v. Also stink(e, stinkken, stincken, stingke, stingen, stenke, (N) stinc, (NWM) stingcen & (early) stinchen, stincen, stincgen. Forms: sg.3 stinketh, etc. & stinkth, stinkit, stinkiȝth, stinkiȝt, stinkigh, (early) stincæð, stincð; pl. stinken, etc. & (early) stincon & (error) styken; ppl. stinking(e, etc. & stinkingge, stinken, stinkonde, sstinking, stingen & (errors) stinkendr, stikand, synkyng, stekenyng, struȝinde, (in place names) stigandes-, stukand-; p.sg.3 stank(e, stanc, stancke, stang, stonk(e, (early SW or SWM) stonc, stong & (N) stinked; pl. stunke(n, stuncken, stō̆nken, stonk, stank & (N) stinked; ppl. stonken, (in place name) ? stunke & (N) stinked. |
| Etymology | OE stincan, stingan; p. stanc, stonc; pl. stuncon; ppl. *stuncen. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. istinken v., stenchen v.
1.
To give off an odor.
Associated quotations
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B)139/17 : Dwerorȝedwosle..Gif deadboren cild sy on wiwes innoþe, nim þeos wyrte dri ciþas, & ða sin niwe swa hi swyðust stincon [L olet suaviter], cnuca on eade wine, sile drincan.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)8194 : þær ȝedenn wiþþ þe lic Full wel fif hunndredd þewwess To strawwenn gode gresess þær Þatt stunnkenn swiþe swete.
2a.
(a) To emit an unpleasant or offensive odor, have an offensive smell, stink [a few early quots. with qualifying adverbs may belong to 1.]; also in proverbs and prov. expressions; ?also, become rotten, putrefy; ~ under, ?give off a slightly offensive odor; (b) ppl. stinkinge, stinking; also, as noun: a stinking thing [quot. a1500(c1477)]; stinkinge fute, strong-smelling spoor.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)1201 : Gat iss..Gal deor & stinnkeþþ fule, & forrþi tacneþþ itt full wel Galnesses hate stinnchess.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)37 : Þis oref is swiðe egerne..and stincð fule for his golnesse.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)56/9 : I þe munt of caluarie..wes þe cwalm stowe; þer leien ofte licomes irotet buuen eorðe & stunken [Nero: stuncken; Cleo: stunke] swiðe stronge.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)118/23 : Te swin ananriht urnen an urn to þe sea to adrenchen ham seoluen. Seinte Marie, swa he [devil] stonc [Cleo: stong; Titus: stanc; Nero: heo stunken; Pep: hij stonken] to þe swin þet ham wes leoure to adrenchen ham seoluen þen forte beoren him.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)167/20 : Lazre stonc of fowr dahes.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)372/182 : He blaste..fuyr of brumston at his nose þat stonk al-so foule and faste.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)744 : Oure fflesch so ffoul is, and of-shamed we wolde beo Þanne me sholde in oure shennesse men stynke & rotye yseo.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3807 : He stank [vrr. stang, stonke] so horribly That noon of al his meynee..Ne myghte noght the stynk of hym endure.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)1 Kings 5.9 : Þe hand of þe lord..smot þe men of eche citee fro litil vn to more, & þe arsroppis of hem goyng out stoonkyn [L computrescebant].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.137 : Þat tyme was so grete fliȝes in Affrica þat..were i-þrowe grete hepes þerof on londe to þe clyves, þat stank so foule..þat þe smyl þerof slouȝ boþe bestes and foules.
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.Barlaam (Vrn)388 : Þe kyng hem [shrines] let vndon þat stounde, And þei stonken as an hounde.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.886 : Men may hem knowe by smel of brymstoon; For al the world they stynken as a goot.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3573 : Þe man þat sua wit eld es dight, His dai es turned him to night..þe teth to rote, þe aand at stinc.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6353 : Þai faand in þat wastin Water bitter sum ani brin..þe water..sua fuli stanc.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)274 : Jonas..stod vp in his [whale's] stomak þat stank as þe deuel.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)98 : It es ful semeli..A brok omang men forto stynk.
- a1425(a1396) Maidstone PPs. (Wht)43 : Whan bodyes stynke vnder stone, Where soules been no man can telle.
- a1425(a1400) Titus & V.(Pep 2014)2653 : Than stancke þe towne, hit was so fylde Of deed bodyes.
- a1425 Body & S.(5) (Add 37787)70 : Þe ryche was welcom when he came; Þe pore was betun þt he stanke.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)45b/a : Oleo: to stenke.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)54a/a : Puteo: to styngke.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)63a/b : Suboleo: stynke vnder.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)5/18 : Þai trowed þat Cristez body schuld hafe stynked [Man.(1): stonken].
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)475 : Stynkkyn: Feteo, oleo, puteo.
- a1450(?1409) Vision Staunton (Roy 17.B.43)70 : I saw the fendes turnyng here arses toward þe sowles, shytyng vppon hem, the whiche dirt stonk so fowle þat it was a passyng payn.
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)138/24 : Camamylle..haȝt lewys lyk to Mawth..but it smellyȝt swete, and þe Mawth stynkyȝt.
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)176/4 : Lunarie..haȝt..a fayre ȝelwȝ flour..and ȝet it stynkyȝth sumdel.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)51/11 : Þaim happend com be a caryon þat had liggen dead many day, & it stynkid ill.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)389/11 : Arsenius..wolde nevur skyfte his clothis bod ons in a yere, to so mekull þat when he doffid þaim þai stynkid.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)72/8 : A roten dogge stynkeȝ more tollerable to men than a synful soule to god.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)300/5 : Thou stynkyst all of the kychyn, thy clothis bene bawdy of the grece and talow.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)222/393 : Lazare..stynkygh ryght fowle longe tyme or this.
- a1500(?a1400) Firumb.(2) (Fil)277 : Þese ylke deuelyn þat nou y-falled be..ere were myȝtful & goddys gret & wyse, And now..Thay ne be but metal and stynkke as an honde.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)192/22 : A prest..þat was lusty to speke of rybawdy..was broght..to hys bed..and al his body ful of choynus..Þe whech choynus stonk as a pulled honde.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)34/381 : Abide, dame..ffor betyn shall thou be with this staf to thou stynk.
- a1500 *Lanfranc CP (Wel 397)30a/8 : Cankre with byle..hathe theis tokens: his lyppis bene gret, hard, and agayn flode with small kyrnell with yn and stynkethe muche.
b
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)117/15 : Ascuten þa awergode gastes sume of þære nywelnysse..& of heora muðen & nosðyrlen stod stincande steam.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.Nicod.(Vsp D.14)85/31 : Ac nu fule & þu stinchende helle, geopene raðe þine gaten, þæt muge in gan þæs ecen wuldres King.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)26/5 : Lazarus læȝ on buriȝene feower niht fulle þa stincende.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)8165 : þær wass mikell oferrgarrt & modiȝnesse shæwedd Abutenn þatt stinnckennde lic þær itt wass brohht till eorþe.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)15/24 : We beoð wiðuten al swa ðe deade manes þruh, þe is wiðuten ihwited and wið-inne stinkendr [read: stinkende] and full of wermes.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)72/8 : Ase muchel seið þis nome oloferne, as stinkinde [Cleo: struȝinde] in helle: Secundum nominis ethimologiam, olofernus, olens in inferno.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)372/181 : Fuyrie speldene, al stinkende [Corp-C: stinginge] out of is mouth he blaste.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1164 : To-ward sodome he sag ðe roke And ðe brinfires stinken smoke.
- a1325 SLeg.Patr.(Corp-C 145)333 : Þe deuelen þis seli kniȝt into anoþer place drowe Þer inne he sei a grislich wel..Al bernynge was þis weol & stinkinge of brymston.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)189/29 : Guoþ ye acorsede in-to þe greate uere eurelestinde ine helle þe stinkinde and þyesterness of ssed.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.183 : Þe ponde of fyre brennande wiþ brymston bitokneþ þe pyt of helle brennande & stynkande [vr. synkyng].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.209 : In helle..hire nosethirles shullen be ful of stynkynge [vr. styngyng] stynk.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)86a/b : Stenche of mouþe comeþ..somtyme of etynge of stinkinge þinges, as it fareþ in hem þat contynualliche etiþ garlek, onyons, & leke.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)1387 : Y sagh a brygge..A grymly watyr was þer vndyr, Blak and depe & ful stynkyngge [vrr. styngkende, styngande].
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)1420 : Þe watyr..was hydus, Sstynkyng, blak, & merueylus.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2887 : Hate and stikand [Frf: stincande] es þe lake And fire and brinstan was þe wrak.
- a1400 Ancr.(Pep 2498)99/1 : Ouer alle oþer þan han þise þe stynkeandest pyne in helle þat so baþen hem in Leccherie, for þe deuel schal pyne hem wiþ þat stynk.
- c1400 Aelred Inst.(1) (Vrn)28/107 : Þilke blessede Agnete gold and seluer..and al þe pompe off wordliche blisse despysede as styngynge dunge.
- (1415) Reg.Chichele in Cant.Yk.S.42 (Lamb 69)45 : Y pray and charge myn executors..þat on my styngyn carion be neither laid cloith of gold neither of silk but a russet cloith.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6496 : I see beggers quakyng, Naked on myxnes al stynkyng.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)145 : Wele kepe hem alle the bochieres as weel with ynne the toun as foreyns, that non of hem shewe to sellyn flessh of morreyn, stynkkyng ne corrupt.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)45.315 : There so stenkenge A savour was that they ne Cowden Entren Into that plas.
- a1450(1419) Loke how Flaundres (Dgb 102)123 : Sorwe of herte makeþ synnes les, Syknes, breþe stekenyng [?read: stenkyng]..Tyl deþ alle redresse.
- c1475(a1400) Amadace (Tay 9)p.31 : Dere God, quat may that be, The grete soro, that ho opon him se, Stingcand opon his bere!
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)222/12 : Þe fend myght not suffre þis & vanysshid away with a grete reke and a stynkkand.
- a1475 *Hrl.Bk.Hawking (Hrl 2340)51b : Ther ben bestes of þe chase of þe swete fute And bestes of þe chase of þe styngande fute..bestes of þe styngand fute: þe fulmard, þe fechewe, þe catt, þe gray, þe fox, [etc.].
- c1475 Abbrev.Trip.SSecr.(UC 85)350/33 : In the vomyte wasshith the body and purgeth him of the ylle and stinkinge humours beinge withynne.
- 1486 ?Berners Bk.St.Albans (Blades 1881)leaf f iv/b : Ther be beestis of the chace of the stynkyng fewte..the Roobucke and the Roo, [etc.].
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)225/20 : God forbede þat þe body of Godys modyr schuld turne into corupcyon and styngkyng careyn.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)1968 : Swete smyllyng thing hath more purite And is more spiritual then stynking may be.
- 1530(c1450) Mirror Our Lady (Fawkes)57 : When a relygyous man harde him synge, he sayde yt was no mannes voyce, but a fendes..he anon lefte there the stynkeynge body that he appered in & wente hys wayes.
2b.
Fig. (a) To be foul or disgusting; be morally corrupt; -- also with indirect obj. [quot. c1230, 2nd]; ?also, waste away, be consumed [quot. a1382]; ~ biforen (afore, on, to, upon), be abhorrent to (sb., God), offend; ~ in goddes sighte (nose), ~ in thin nose-thirles, etc.; (b) ppl. stinkinge, contemptible, despicable, hateful, disgusting, morally corrupt, etc.; ?also, as noun: despicable people [quot. c1350].
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.3 Dead (Bod 343)136/19 : Þa sawle..syngæþ iwunelice & þurh unlisan atelice stincæð.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)37 : Alle oregel men..telleð hem seluen heige and drieð hordom and of þe hore fule stinkeð.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)54/6 : Folhe heorde of geat..beoð flesches lustes þe stinkeð ase geat doð biuoren ure lauerd.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)73/5 : Wið ute wisdom flesch as wurm forfret hire & wasteð hire seoluen..Ah þulli sacrefise stinkeð ure lauerd [Nero: to ure louerd].
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)112/3 : Þe lecchur i þe deofles curt bifuleð him seoluen fulliche & his feolahes alle, stinkeð [Pep: styken] of þet fulðe.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)167/21 : Hu stinkeð [Nero: stinckeð] þe sunfule of fowr ȝer oðer of fiue?
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.46.2 : Oure chargis with heuy berþene vn to werynesse stunken [WB(2): weren rotun; L Contabuerunt] & to-brosid ben to-gidere.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.1067 : Lo how this theef koude his seruyse bede; Ful sooth it is that swich profred seruyse Stynketh [vr. Stinkeþe], as witnessen thise olde wyse.
- a1400 Ancr.(Pep 2498)54/34 : Al þat we do to god..wiþ outen wisdom, it stynkeþ opon god.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)847 : Þe wynd and þe weder and þe worlde stynkes Of þe brych þat upbraydez þose broþelych wordez.
- c1400 PLove (Hrl 2254)190/26 : Soþli, lady, i stynke foule in þy nose-þrilles, ȝe so foule þat..þou woldest fleen þe filþe of me.
- c1400 Who-so loueth endeles (Sim)100 : Sclaundre no mon more ne mynne, For sclaundre stynkeþ in godus syȝth.
- c1440 HBk.GDei (Thrn)11/4 : Þou stynkkes here to Godd for þi foule synnes.
- a1450 Aelred Inst.(2) (Bod 423)23/922 : Thenke ofte her-vpon, and than shal al affeccyon of flesshe and worldly loue stynke vpon the.
- a1450 Castle Love(1) (BodAdd B.107)1726 : I may not for no þyng suffre the, So foule þy synne stynkeþ on me.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)156/27 : Þat dedely synne þat þou arte in..stynkeþ afore God.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)272/31 : A Synner..falleþ vn-to dethe by consentyng to dedely synne..And þer-fore he must nedis stenke in þe siȝth of God.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)51/21 : Yone yong man þat is so prowde & full of syn stynkis mor vglie in þe sight of God.
- c1450 PPl.B (RwlPoet 38)10.298 : Religioun roileth, Sterueth, and stynketh [vr. stynkþ]..Þat oute of couent and cloystre coueyten to libbe.
- a1475 VPhilibert (Brog 2.1)p.22 : God formyd the after his owne ymage..And ordent the body..To be thy thral..But al for noȝte, I se proferd serves stynkit.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)68/12 : Oure forme synne stanke soo yn Godes nase þat all our ospryng schall be enfecte..ynto þe worldys ende.
b
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)152/28 : Þet is deadlich sunne wið uten þe dede, ant swa is ec þe delit of þet stinkinde [Nero: stincginde] lust wið ute grant of þe werc.
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)26/20 : Mid scute of eien, mid spere of wundinde word, mid sweorde of deadliche hondlun-ge weorreð lecherie þeo stinckinde hore wið þe lef-di of chastete, þet is godes spuse.
- a1300(?a1250) Serm.Atte wrastlinge (Trin-C B.1.45)107 : Wiche ben harde hertis?..þo þat herein in holi prechinge þe schendchipe & te peine of helle..& for al þis liuen in here flescis lustis & in here stinkinde sinnis.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)4377 : In norþweye..Of hor stinkinge seruise þat ȝe abbeþ out ybroȝt Þis halueman ȝe ssolle winne wel liȝtloker.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.204 : Here Inne ben acursed þe wicked stynkande [F li felun Gius pullant] þat geynseien þe soþfast lettre of þis book writen.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Prov.10.7 : Þe name of þe vnpitouse men shal waxe stynkynge.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.562 : Of ire comen thise stynkynge engendrures: First hate..and thanne cometh werre.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23109 : Þar sal stand on þis oþer side Wreches..Sari sorful on to se. Þe first range mast stincand [Frf: stincande; Trin-C: stynkonde] Sal be o wreches mistruand, þat renaid ar traiturs and fals.
- c1400 Bk.Mother (Bod 416)50/14 : Wilde bestis hauen ofte mad þi soule fouler stinkinge tofore God þanne ony stable or oni oþer þing of þe world þat is not synne.
- c1400 PLove (Hrl 2254)123/9 : He makiþ me þat is a dede man for to fele life, & me a stynkande worm for to taste heuenly delices.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)7093 : Suche ben the stynkyng prophetis; Nys non of hem that good prophete is.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Priesthood (Corp-C 296)170 : Newe men crien hiȝe to mennus eris wiþ stynckynge lecherie, pride, coueitise, & oþere synnes.
- a1450 Hilton Epistle CF (Add 33971)310/91 : Mary Mawdelayne, howe stynkand sho was qwen sho come to oure Lordes fete, bot whyle sho washe his fete..hry-self was washen and wyped fro all synne.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)193/13 : False stodmere and stynkand stroye, How durste þou stele so stille away To do so vilaunce avowtry?
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)33/144 : What, þou stynkyng losel, and is it so? Doth god þe love and hatyht me?
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)5.11 : Thaire throt is lyknyd til a graue openand, for thai shew stynkand wordes that corumpis the herers.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.299 : Let hym þinkyn..of þat endeles loue þat Crist schewyd..& so turnyn his foule stynckande loue..into þe swete clene loue of Iesu.
3.
(a) To perceive the foul odor of (sth.); also fig.; (b) to cause (sth.) to stink, give a foul odor to.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)46/8-9 : Þes false fikeleres ablendeð þe ham her[c]nið..& wriheð hare fulðe þet ha hit ne mahe stinken, & þet is hare muchel unselhðe, for ȝef ha hit stunken, ham walde wleatie þer wið & eornen to schrift.
- a1250 Cristes milde moder (Nero A.14)44 : Al is godes riche..þer ne schulen heo neuer..weopen ne murnen ne helle stenches stinken.
b
- ?c1335 Heil seint Michel (Hrl 913)p.157 : Hail be ȝe skinners wiþ ȝure drenche kiue! Who so smilliþ þerto, wo is him aliue..Daþeit ȝur curteisie, ȝe stinkeþ al þe strete.
- (?1387) Wimbledon Serm.(Corp-C 357)79/295 : Here þou art ocupienge þe place of Petir..But how? As Judas was among þe apostelis..as a candel newe queynt þat stynkeþ al þe hous in stede of a lyȝt lanterne, and as a smoke þat blendeþ mennys eiȝen in place of clier fier, ȝif þou contrarie þus þe forme of lyuynge þat Crist and his apostelis leften to prestis.
4.
In place names.
Associated quotations
- (1228) in Ekwall Street-Names Lond.101 : Styngkynglane.
- (1275) in Ekwall Street-Names Lond.101 : Stukandelane, Stigandeslan.
- (1285) in Ekwall Street-Names Lond.101 : Stinkendelane.
- (1393) Doc.Thaxted in Ess.ROP 3334 : [One piece of land extending from] Smalmade [unto] Stunkewillemade [on the east part of one piece of land assigned to John Veer].
- (1393) Doc.Thaxted in Ess.ROP 3338 : North'mede & Stunkewellemede.