befylan

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *bifūlijan, equivalent to be- +‎ fȳlan.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /beˈfyː.lɑn/

Verb

befȳlan

  1. to defile, befoul
    • Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church
      Nū is ūs ālȳfed, þurh lārēowa ealdordōm, þæt wē dæġhwomlice, on þyssere lenctenlīċan tīde, ūre līchaman ġerēordiġan mid forhæfednysse, and sȳfernysse, and clǣnnysse. Stuntlīċe fæst sē lenctenlīċ fæsten seðe on ðisum clǣnum tīman hine sylfne mid gālnysse befȳld. Unrihtlīċ bið þæt sē crīstena mann flǣsċlīċe lustas ġefremme on ðām tīman þe hē flæsċmettas forgān sċeal.
      Now it is permitted to us, through the authority of teachers, that we feed our bodies with restraint, moderation, and modesty every day of this Lenten tide. He who performs the Lenten fast while defiling himself with lust does so foolishly. It is unlawful for a Christian to indulge in carnal lusts during the time he should forgo meats.

Conjugation

Conjugation of befȳlan (weak, class 1)
infinitive befȳlan befȳlenne
indicative mood present tense past tense
first person singular befȳle befȳlde
second person singular befȳlest, befȳlst befȳldest
third person singular befȳleþ, befȳlþ befȳlde
plural befȳlaþ befȳldon
subjunctive present tense past tense
singular befȳle befȳlde
plural befȳlen befȳlden
imperative
singular befȳl
plural befȳlaþ
participle present past
befȳlende befȳled, befȳld

Descendants

  • Middle English: befilen, befulen
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