glyffen
Middle English
Etymology
Unknown; possibly from multiple similar-sounding words that coalesced. Compare Dutch glippen (“slip”) (first sense), Old Norse glípna (“to be downcast”) (third sense).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈɡlifən/
Verb
glyffen (third-person singular simple present glyffeth, present participle glyffende, first-/third-person singular past indicative glyfte, past participle glyft)
- to slip [13th–14th c.]
- to look to the side [from 14th c.]
- (rare) to become frightened
Conjugation
Conjugation of glyffen (weak in -te)
| infinitive | (to) glyffen, glyffe | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| present tense | past tense | ||
| 1st-person singular | glyffe | glyfte | |
| 2nd-person singular | glyffest | glyftest | |
| 3rd-person singular | glyffeth | glyfte | |
| subjunctive singular | glyffe | ||
| imperative singular | — | ||
| plural1 | glyffen, glyffe | glyften, glyfte | |
| imperative plural | glyffeth, glyffe | — | |
| participles | glyffynge, glyffende | glyft, yglyft | |
1Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.
Descendants
- >? English: gliff
References
- “gliffen, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
- James A. H. Murray [et al.], editors (1884–1928), “Gliffen”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volumes IV (F–G), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 218, column 2.
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