swepen
Middle English
Etymology
Not known before the 14th century, but usually considered to be from Old English *swēpan, *swǣpan, from Proto-West Germanic *swaipijan, from Proto-Germanic *swaipijaną.
Derivation from Old English swipian (with open-syllable lengthening) or swēop, past participle of swāpan is also possible; these sources may have reinforced a rare *swēpan.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈsweːpən/
Verb
swepen (third-person singular simple present swepeth, present participle swepynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative swepte, past participle swept)
- (transitive, intransitive) To sweep (something); to stroke with a broom:
- (transitive, religion) To cleanse or purge evil influences.
- (usually transitive) To remove or eradicate; to strike off.
- (transitive, intransitive, poetic, uncommon) To speed up or impel.
Conjugation
Conjugation of swepen (weak in -te/-ed)
| infinitive | (to) swepen, swepe | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| present tense | past tense | ||
| 1st-person singular | swepe | swepte, sweped | |
| 2nd-person singular | swepest | sweptest, swepedest | |
| 3rd-person singular | swepeth | swepte, sweped | |
| subjunctive singular | swepe | ||
| imperative singular | — | ||
| plural1 | swepen, swepe | swepten, swepte, swepeden, swepede | |
| imperative plural | swepeth, swepe | — | |
| participles | swepynge, swepende | swept, sweped, yswept, ysweped | |
1Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.
References
- “swẹ̄pen, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
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