hwon

few, little

slightly, a little, somewhat

Ġif hē hwon hnappode, ðǣrrihte hine drehton nihtliċe gedwimor, swā þæt him ðæs slǣpes ofþuhte.

If he napped a little, immediately nightmares tormented him, such that sleep became miserable for him.

c. 992, Ælfric, “The Nativity of the Innocents”

why

a few, a little

Forþon him ġelȳfeð lȳt, sē þe āh līfes wyn ġebiden in burgum, bealosīþa hwōn, wlonc ond wīngāl, hū iċ wēriġ oft in brimlāde bīdan sċeolde.

At first he believes a little, who has life’s mirth lasted in towns, a little of woes, proud and wine-flown, how weary I oft had to linger on the sea-road.

10th century, The Seafarer:

instrumental of hwā

instrumental of hwæt

Inflected form of hwā