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gnawen in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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Middle English
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)
- To gnaw; to persistently bite or chew.
- To eat or eliminate through gnawing.
- To impale or wound; to pierce the skin.
- To wear; to cause corrosion or wastage.
- (rare) To anguish or worry; to cause concern.
- (rare) To mock, insult or slight; to speak negatively of.
- (rare) To feel anguish, worry, or concern.
- (rare) To ruin or ravage.
Usage notes
- This verb is occasionally weak in Middle English, but usually remains strong.
Conjugation
| 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
|
1Replaced by the indicative in later Middle English.
2Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.
Descendants
References