pleyen

Middle English

Etymology 1

From a conflation of Old English pleġan and pleġian, from Proto-Germanic *pleganą, *plehaną and *plegōną. Equivalent to pleye +‎ -en (“infinitival ending”).

Alternative forms

pleien, pleiȝen, playen, pleȝen, plæien, plaien, pleye, plaȝen, plawen

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈplɛi̯ən/

Verb

pleyen

To entertain; to play or engage in recreation or sports:
1. To engage in a game or sport, especially for money.
2. To entertain oneself; to play or engage in recreation with oneself
3. To go on a holiday or a journey for the purpose of enjoyment.
4. To jump satisfactorily; bounce gleefully.
5. To copulate and/or engage in foreplay.
To frolic or bounce around.
To bet or wager something in a game.
To engage in social behaviour; to make small-talk.
To act in a certain manner; to act like (something or someone):
1. To imitate or deceive; to recast or recreate a past event.
2. To participate in a theatrical production.
To play music; to sing and/or play an instrument.
To plaw; to reach the boiling point.
(rare) To provide entertainment, happiness or fun; to participate in a performance that is neither theatrical or musical.
(rare) To work at; do something as one's job, career, or living.

Conjugation

Conjugation of pleyen (weak)

indicative	present	past
infinitive	(to) pleyen
1st person singular	pleye	pleyede
2nd person singular	pleyest	pleyedest
3rd person singular	pleyeth, pleyeþ	pleyede
plural	pleyen	pleyeden
subjunctive	present	past
singular	pleye	pleyede
plural	pleyen	pleyeden
imperative	present
singular	pleye
plural	pleyeth, pleyeþ
participle	present	past
participle	pleyende, pleyinge	pleyed, ypleyed

Related terms

playing
pleiful
pleye
pleyer

Descendants

English: play, plaw
Scots: play

References

“pleien (v.(1))” in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-05-19.

Etymology 2

From ple (“plea”) +‎ -en (“infinitival ending”).