eldertongue

Old English · verb

befon

Normalised befōn

Part of speech
verb
Verb class
strong class VII
IPA
/beˈfoːn/
Syllables
be · ˈfoːn (2 syllables)
Modern English
befangbegripinholdencirclecomprehendenwrapconceive

Meaning

  1. to comprehend, grasp; begrip, take hold of, catch

  2. to surround, encompass; beset, encircle, enwrap, clothe, receive, conceive, inhold

    Asia is befangen mid...þǣm gārseċġe sūþan ⁊ norþan ⁊ eastan...

    Asia is surrounded by...the southern and northern and eastern sea...

    late 9th century, translation of Orosius’ History Against the Pagans

Conjugation

Conjugation of befon
PresentPast
Indicative
1st singular befōbefēng
2nd singular befēhstbefēnge
3rd singular befēhþbefēng
Plural befōþbefēngon
Subjunctive
Singular befōbefēnge
Plural befōnbefēngen
Non-finite forms of befon
Form
Infinitive befōn
Inflected infinitive befōnne
Imperative singular befōh
Imperative plural befōþ
Present participle befōnde
Past participle befangen

All forms (13)

Etymology

From be- + fōn. Cognate with Old Saxon bifāhan, Old High German bifāhan, Old Frisian bifā. See fang.

Descendants

befang

Source: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · en.wiktionary.org/wiki/befon · CC BY-SA 4.0 licence · Attribution