wefan
Old English
Alternative forms
- ƿefan
Etymology
From Proto-Germanic *webaną, from Proto-Indo-European *webʰ- (“to weave, braid”). Germanic cognates include Old Frisian weva, Middle Low German wēven (German Low German węven), Dutch weven, Old High German weban (German weben), Old Norse vefa (Swedish väva). The Indo-European root is also the source of Sanskrit उभ्नाति (ubhnāti, “entwine”), Ancient Greek ὑφαίνω (huphaínō, “weave”), Tocharian A wäp- (“weave”). Webbian, as well as modern English web and wasp, are related.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈwevɑn/
Verb
wefan
- (West Saxon) to weave
Conjugation
Conjugation of wefan (strong class 5)
| infinitive | wefan | tō wefenne |
|---|---|---|
| indicative | present | past |
| 1st-person singular | wefe | wæf |
| 2nd-person singular | wifest | wǣfe |
| 3rd-person singular | wifeþ | wæf |
| plural | wefaþ | wǣfon |
| subjunctive | present | past |
| singular | wefe | wǣfe |
| plural | wefen | wǣfen |
| imperative | ||
| singular | wef | |
| plural | wefaþ | |
| participle | present | past |
| wefende | (ġe)wefen | |
Descendants
- English: weave