belwen

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Old English belgan, from Proto-West Germanic *belgan, from Proto-Germanic *belganą; reinforced by Old English bylġan, from *bulgijan; compare modern English billow.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈbɛlwən/, /ˈbɛlɔu̯ən/
  • IPA(key): /ˈbɛljən/ (East Saxon, from Old English bylġan)
  • IPA(key): /ˈbɛliu̯iː/ (Southern)

Verb

belwen (third-person singular simple present belweth, present participle belwende, belwynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle belwed)

  1. To growl or roar (of animals)
  2. To bellow, roar (of the wind or sea)
  3. (Early Middle English) To anger or rage; to become or make angry.

Usage notes

  • In Early Middle English, strong past forms of this verb are attested.

Conjugation

Conjugation of belwen (weak in -ed)
infinitive (to) belwen, belwe
present tense past tense
1st-person singular belwe belwed
2nd-person singular belwest belwedest
3rd-person singular belweth belwed
subjunctive singular belwe
imperative singular —
plural1 belwen, belwe belweden, belwede
imperative plural belweth, belwe —
participles belwynge, belwende belwed, ybelwed

1 Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Descendants

  • English: bellow
  • Middle Scots: *belly, *billy

References

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