Slunk

Slunk is the past tense and past participle of the verb slink, meaning to move smoothly and quietly, especially in a way that hides one’s presence or draws little attention. It is used to describe people or animals that slip or creep away, often in a furtive or ashamed manner.

Etymology and origins: The verb slink is of Germanic origin and has attestations in Middle English. Its exact roots are uncertain, but it is related to roots in other Germanic languages that convey creeping or stealthy movement. The form slunk has long been the standard past tense and past participle in modern English.

Usage: Slunk is used to convey stealth, embarrassment, or avoidance in narration and description. It is typically followed by prepositions such as away, off, or out. Examples include: She slunk into the back of the room to avoid notice. After realizing the mistake, he slunk away to the shadows. The standard past participle remains slunk; older or dialectal variants such as sllinked are rarely used in contemporary standard English.

Notes: Slunk is chiefly a verb form and is not (in ordinary usage) a common noun or name. In modern writing, it serves as a concise way to depict quiet, stealthy movement or retreat, often with an undertone of guilt or shame.