gnawen

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Old English gnagan, from Proto-West Germanic *gnagan, Proto-Germanic *gnaganą.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈɡnau̯ən/, /ˈknau̯ən/

Verb

gnawen (third-person singular simple present gnaweth, present participle gnawynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative gnew, past participle gnowen)

  1. To gnaw; to persistently bite or chew.
  2. To eat or eliminate through gnawing.
  3. To impale or wound; to pierce the skin.
  4. To wear; to cause corrosion or wastage.
  5. (rare) To anguish or worry; to cause concern.
  6. (rare) To mock, insult or slight; to speak negatively of.
  7. (rare) To feel anguish, worry, or concern.
  8. (rare) To ruin or ravage.

Usage notes

  • This verb is occasionally weak in Middle English, but usually remains strong.

Conjugation

Conjugation of gnawen (strong class 6/7)
infinitive (to) gnawen, gnawe
present tense past tense
1st-person singular gnawe gnow, gnogh, gnew
2nd-person singular gnawest gnowe, gnewe, gnow, gnogh, gnew
3rd-person singular gnaweth gnow, gnogh, gnew
subjunctive singular gnawe gnowe1, gnewe1
imperative singular —
plural2 gnawen, gnawe gnowen, gnowe, gnewen, gnewe
imperative plural gnaweth, gnawe —
participles gnawynge, gnawende gnawen, gnawe, ygnawe

1 Replaced by the indicative in later Middle English.
2 Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Descendants

  • English: gnaw, knaw
  • Scots: gnaw, knaw
  • Yola: gnafeen (ppl.) (<gnaȝen)

References

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