bysn

• bȳsen, bīsen

From Proto-Germanic *būsniz (“command, precept”), from *beudaną (“to ask, beg”). Cognate with Old Saxon ambusan (“command, precept”), Old Norse býsn (“wonder, premonition”), Gothic 𐌰𐌽𐌰𐌱𐌿𐍃𐌽𐍃 (anabūsns, “command”).

• IPA^(key): /byːsn/, [byːzn]

bȳsn f

1. example
   • late 9th century, King Alfred's translation of Boethius' The Consolation of Philosophy

     Ealla bēċ sind fulla þāra bȳsna þāra manna þe ǣr ūs wǣron.

     All books are full of the examples of the people who were before us.

2. parable
3. command

Strong i-stem:

• forebȳsn (“example”)
• bȳsnian (“exemplify, give or set an example”)

• Middle English: bisne, bisen
  • English: bizen