þurfan
Old English
Etymology
From Proto-Germanic *þurbaną (“to need, to have to”), from Proto-Indo-European *terp- (“to satisfy”). Germanic cognates include Old Frisian *thurva, Old Saxon thurvan, Middle Dutch durven (Dutch durven), Old Norse þurfa (Swedish tarva), Old High German thurfan (German dürfen), Gothic 𐌸𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌱𐌰𐌽 (þaurban). The Indo-European root also led to Ancient Greek τέρπω (térpō), Old Church Slavonic трѣбѣ (trěbě), Russian требовать (trebovatʹ).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈθurfɑn/, [ˈθurvɑn]
Verb
þurfan
- to need [+genitive]
- to be obliged (to do something)
Conjugation
Conjugation of þurfan (preterite-present)
| infinitive | þurfan | tō þurfanne |
|---|---|---|
| indicative | present | past |
| 1st-person singular | þearf | þorfte |
| 2nd-person singular | þearft | þorftest |
| 3rd-person singular | þearf | þorfte |
| plural | þurfon | þorfton |
| subjunctive | present | past |
| singular | þurfe | þorfte |
| plural | þurfen | þorften |
| imperative | ||
| singular | þurf | |
| plural | þurfaþ | |
| participle | present | past |
| þurfende | þurfen | |
Descendants
- Middle English: thurven, thurfen, þurfen, durfen
- English: tharf