fæmne

Old English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *faimnijā (“girl”), related to (but not directly cognate with) Old Saxon fēmea, fēhmia, West Frisian faam, Icelandic feima (“maiden”). Unrelated to Latin fēmina (“female, woman”), and probably also to Latin famula (“female servant”).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈfæːm.ne/

Noun

fǣmne f

  1. virgin
  2. young woman

Usage notes
  • Though this word is the normal Early West Saxon word for "virgin," the normal EWS word for "virginity" is not fǣmnhād but mæġeþhād.

Declension
Declension of fæmne (weak)
Case Singular Plural
nominative fǣmne fǣmnan
accusative fǣmnan fǣmnan
genitive fǣmnan fǣmnena
dative fǣmnan fǣmnum

Derived terms
  • fǣmnhād (“virginity”)
  • fǣmnlīċ (“virginal”)
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