SYKN
lýsingarorð
adj.; not sýkn; the short vowel is borne out by rhymes, lykill, syknu, … as also by etymology, for vi changes into y, not into ý(sykn = svikn): [Ulf. swikns = ἁγνός, ὄσιος, ἀθωος; Prof. Bugge suggests that this word may be a compd, from an intens. particle sve-, and an adjective, ikn or akn, Gr. ἁγν-ός]:—‘sackless,’ free from guilt, innocent; hlutlauss eða sykn af manndrápi, Fms. ii. 225; hafit ok hirðit syknar hendr yðrar, Stj. 193: with gen., sykn saka, N. G. L. passim.
II. esp. as a law term, free; sé nú, seggir, sykn em ek orðin, blameless, declared free, by performance of ordeal, Gkv. 3. 9; vér dæmum M.N. mann syknau, give sentence for him, declare him innocent, Grág. i. 71.
2. esp. of a person who has been outlawed, but who is now declared a free man, one who is released, reprieved, having formerly been sekr; vágum ór skógi þann vildum syknan, Am. 97; görði jarl Þorkel syknan á alsherjar-þingi, Fms. ii. 106; far þú átan með mér ok mun ek göra þik syknan, Bs. i. 17; leysa sekt mína … ek skal gefa þér heilla-ráð at verða sykn, Fms. ii. 208; síðan fór hverr til sinna heimkynna, er allir vóru syknir, Ísl. ii. 392; syknir menn ok þeir menn er landvært eigu út hér, Grág. i. 209; þótti nú at vísu ganga, at hann mundi sykn vera á öðru sumri, Grett. 174 new Ed.; ok verði Grettir sykn … at Grettir yrði sykn, 116, 117 new Ed.; taldi hann vera syknan, Rb. 292.