belifan

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *bilīban. Equivalent to be- +‎ a Proto-Germanic verb meaning "to be left," which is the root of Old English lāf and lǣfan.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /beˈliː.fɑn/, [beˈliː.vɑn]

Verb

belīfan

  1. to stay or remain
    • c. 992, Ælfric, "The Epiphany of the Lord"
      Þa tungel-witegan ferdon and hí gebædon, and ða Iudeiscan boceras bæftan belifon, þe þa cenning-stowe þurh bóclic gescead gebícnodon.
      The astrologers went and worshipped, and the Jewish scribes remained behind, who had through book-knowledge pointed out the birth-place.
  2. to continue, remain over, be left
    • Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church
      Þæt fīfte wīte wæs cwealm on heora orfe, swā þæt on ðām lande fornēan nān orf ne belāf, buton Israheles bē ānsund ġestōd.
      The fifth plague was a pestilence among their livestock, such that in the land almost no livestock were left, except for those of Israel, who remained healthy.

Conjugation

Conjugation of belīfan (strong, class I)
infinitive belīfan belīfenne
indicative mood present tense past tense
first person singular belīfe belāf
second person singular belīfst belife
third person singular belīfþ belāf
plural belīfaþ belifon
subjunctive present tense past tense
singular belīfe belife
plural belīfen belifen
imperative
singular belīf
plural belīfaþ
participle present past
belīfende belifen

Descendants

  • Middle English: beliven
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