besittan

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *bisitjaną (“to sit near, sit among or around”), equivalent to be- +‎ sittan.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /beˈsit.tɑn/

Verb

besittan

  1. to sit near; sit about, surround, beset
  2. to besiege
    • late 9th century, translation of Orosius’ History Against the Pagans
      Æfter þǣm Rōmeburg ġetimbred wæs V hunde wintrum ⁊ XXXIII, Hannibal, Pena cyning, besǣt Saguntum Ispania burg...
      533 years after Rome was built, Hannibal, king of the Carthaginians, laid siege to Saguntum, a city in Hispania.
  3. to sit as the master of, hold, possess

Conjugation

Conjugation of besittan (strong, class V)
infinitive besittan besittenne
indicative mood present tense past tense
first person singular besitte besæt
second person singular besitst besǣte
third person singular besitt, besit besæt
plural besittaþ besǣton
subjunctive present tense past tense
singular besitte besǣte
plural besitten besǣten
imperative
singular besite
plural besittaþ
participle present past
besittende beseten

Descendants

  • Middle English: besitten
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