onfon

From earlier ondfōn, from Proto-Germanic *anda- + *fanhaną (“to accept”). Cognate with obsolete West Frisian ûntfean (“to receive”), Old High German intfahan (German empfangen). Equivalent to and- +‎ fōn.

• IPA^(key): /onˈfoːn/

onfōn (+ dative/accusative)

1. to receive, accept
   • late 9th century, King Alfred's translation of Saint Augustine's Soliloquies

     ...ac onfōh mē nū þīnne āgene þēawa, for ic eom flēonde fram hym.

     ...but do Thou receive me now, Thine own servant, for I am fleeing from them.

   • c. 992, Ælfric, "The Nativity of St. Andrew the Apostle"

     Onfōh me fram mannum, and agíf me minum Láreowe, þæt he ðurh ðe me underfō, seðe þurh ðe me alysde."

     Receive me from men, and give me to my Teacher, that he through thee receive me, who through thee hath redeemed me."

2. to take
3. to perceive, catch on to
4. to undertake, undergo

• Middle English: onfon, onfangen
  • English: onfang