glyffen
Middle English
Alternative forms
- glyffe, gliffen, gluffen
Etymology
Unknown; possibly from multiple similar-sounding words that coalesced. Compare Dutch glippen (“slip”) (first sense), Old Norse glípna (“to be downcast”) (third sense).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈɡlifən/
Verb
glyffen (third-person singular simple present glyffeth, present participle glyffende, first-/third-person singular past indicative glyfte, past participle glyft)
- to slip [13th–14th c.]
- to look to the side [from 14th c.]
- (rare) to become frightened
Conjugation
Conjugation of glyffen (irregular weak)
| infinitive | (to) glyffen | |
|---|---|---|
| indicative | present | past |
| 1st person singular | glyffe | glyfte |
| 2nd person singular | glyffest | glyftest |
| 3rd person singular | glyffeþ, glyffeth | glyfte |
| plural | glyffen | glyfte(n) |
| subjunctive | present | past |
| singular | glyffe | glyfte |
| plural | glyffen | glyfte(n) |
| imperative | present | |
| singular | glyffe | |
| plural | glyffeþ, glyffeth | |
| participle | present | past |
| glyffende, glyffinge | (y)glyft | |
Descendants
- >? English: gliff
References
- “gliffen” in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
- James A. H. Murray [et al.], editor (1884–1928) , “Gliffen”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume IV (F–G), London: Clarendon Press, OCLC 15566697, page 218, column 2.