writen

writen

Middle Dutch

Etymology

From Old Dutch *wrītan, from Proto-Germanic *wrītaną.

Verb

writen

1. to turn, to twist
2. to wrap

Inflection

Strong class 1
Infinitive	writen
3rd sg. past	wrêet
3rd pl. past	wrēten
Past participle	gewrēten
Infinitive	writen
In genitive	writens
In dative	writene
Indicative	Present	Past
1st singular	write	wrêet
2nd singular	wrijts, writes	wrēets, wrētes
3rd singular	wrijt, writet	wrêet
1st plural	writen	wrēten
2nd plural	wrijt, writet	wrēet, wrētet
3rd plural	writen	wrēten
Subjunctive	Present	Past
1st singular	write	wrēte
2nd singular	wrijts, writes	wrētes
3rd singular	write	wrēte
1st plural	writen	wrēten
2nd plural	wrijt, writet	wrētet
3rd plural	writen	wrēten
Imperative	Present
Singular	wrijt, write
Plural	wrijt, writet
	Present	Past
Participle	writende	gewrēten

Descendants

• Dutch: wrijten

Further reading

• Verwijs, E.; Verdam, J. (1885–1929), “writen”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN

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Middle English

Alternative forms

• wryten, write

Etymology

From Old English wrītan, from Proto-Germanic *wrītaną. Cognate to Middle Low German writen and Middle High German rīzen.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈwriːtən/

Verb

writen (singular simple past wroot, plural simple past wroten)

1. To write (draw letters on paper to form words); note the following common specialised senses:
   • 1407, The Testimony of William Thorpe, pages 40–41

     And thei sauouriden so his loore that thei wroten it bisili and enforsiden hem to rulen hem theraftir… Maister Ion Aston taughte and wroot acordingli and ful bisili, where and whanne and to whom he myghte, and he vsid it himsilf, I gesse, right perfyghtli vnto his lyues eende.”

   1. To record in writing; to produce or add to a written document.
   2. To act as a notary or a scribe; to transcribe into or note with writing.
   3. To write about; to cover, discuss, or report on in writing.
   4. To create a written or literary work; to author.
   5. To send a letter or document one wrote off.
   6. To convert into another language; to make a translation of.
2. To engrave, carve, or scratch
3. To form words or letters via means other than drawing or engraving.
4. (rare) To make one's signature or identifying symbol.
5. (rare) To represent via means other than writing.

Conjugation

Conjugation of writen (strong class 1)

infinitive	(to) writen, write
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	write	wrot
2nd-person singular	writest	wrote, write, wrot
3rd-person singular	writeth	wrot
subjunctive singular	write	wrote1, write1
imperative singular		—
plural2	writen, write	wroten, wrote, writen, write
imperative plural	writeth, write	—
participles	writynge, writende	writen, wreten, ywrite

¹Replaced by the indicative in later Middle English.
²Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Related terms

• writer

Descendants

• English: write
• Scots: writ, wryte, wret

References

• “wrīten, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-04-30.

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Middle Low German

Etymology

From Old Saxon writan (“to write, carve”), from Proto-Germanic *wrītaną.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /wriːtən/

Verb

wrîten

1. to write
2. to carve, to scratch

Conjugation

Conjugation of writen as a class 1 strong verb

Plain Infinitive	wrîten
Full Infinitive (Gerund)	tô wrîtene or tô wrîtende
Verbal Noun	wrîten or wrîtent
Participles			Imperatives
Present	wrîtende		2nd Person Singular	wrît
Past	gewrēten		2nd Person Plural	wrîtet
	Indicative		Subjunctive
	Present	Preterite	Present	Preterite
1st Person Singular	wrîte	wrêt	wrîte	wrēte
2nd Person Singular	wrîtest or wrîtst	wrētest	wrîtest	wrētest
3rd Person Singular	wrîtet or wrît	wrêt	wrîtet	wrēte
Plural	wrîten (wrîtet?)	wrēten	wrîten	wrēten