brayen

Middle English

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈbræi̯ən/

Etymology 1

    Borrowed from Old French braire (to cry), from Vulgar Latin *bragiāre, from Gaulish, from Proto-Celtic *bragyeti (to fart).

    Alternative forms

    Verb

    brayen (third-person singular simple present brayeth, present participle brayinge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle brayed)

    1. To cry out in alarm or sorrow.
    2. (of an animal) To cry or shriek.
    3. (of the weather, rare) To howl or roar.
    Conjugation
    Conjugation of brayen (weak in -ed)
    infinitive (to) brayen, braye
    present tense past tense
    1st-person singular braye brayed
    2nd-person singular brayest brayedest
    3rd-person singular brayeth brayed
    subjunctive singular braye
    imperative singular
    plural1 brayen, braye brayeden, brayede
    imperative plural brayeth, braye
    participles brayynge, brayende brayed, ybrayed

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

    Descendants
    • English: bray
    • Middle Scots: bray
    References

    Etymology 2

      Borrowed from Anglo-Norman breier, possibly from Frankish *brekan, from Proto-Germanic *brekaną; thus a doublet of breken.

      Verb

      brayen (third-person singular simple present brayeth, present participle brayinge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle brayed)

      1. To break up; to crush into pieces.
      2. (rare) To stomp or pound upon.
      3. (rare) To push or budge.
      Conjugation
      Conjugation of brayen (weak in -ed)
      infinitive (to) brayen, braye
      present tense past tense
      1st-person singular braye brayed
      2nd-person singular brayest brayedest
      3rd-person singular brayeth brayed
      subjunctive singular braye
      imperative singular
      plural1 brayen, braye brayeden, brayede
      imperative plural brayeth, braye
      participles brayynge, brayende brayed, ybrayed

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

      Descendants
      References