meþgian
Old English
Alternative forms
- ġemēþgian – uncertain, see Usage note
Etymology
From Proto-West Germanic *mōþīgōn, equivalent to *mēþe (“weariness”) + -gian and/or mēþiġ (“weary”) + -ian.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈmeːθ.ɡi.ɑn/, [ˈmeːð.ɣi.ɑn]
Verb
mēþgian
- (transitive) to weary, fatigue, or impair
- Synonym: mēþian
Conjugation
Conjugation of mēþgian (weak class 2)
| infinitive | mēþgian | mēþgienne |
|---|---|---|
| indicative mood | present tense | past tense |
| first person singular | mēþgiġe | mēþgode |
| second person singular | mēþgast | mēþgodest |
| third person singular | mēþgaþ | mēþgode |
| plural | mēþgiaþ | mēþgodon |
| subjunctive | present tense | past tense |
| singular | mēþgiġe | mēþgode |
| plural | mēþgiġen | mēþgoden |
| imperative | ||
| singular | mēþga | |
| plural | mēþgiaþ | |
| participle | present | past |
| mēþgiende | (ġe)mēþgod | |
Usage notes
- The verb is attested solely in the past participle as ġemēþgad (“wearied, impaired”), so it is impossible to determine whether ġe- denotes the general past participle marker or whether the prefix was attached to all tenses of the verb as ġemēþgian. Cognates in Middle Low German and Middle High German show no prefix attached to the present tense forms, so it is likely that Old English also lacked the prefix in the present tense.
Related terms
- mēþe