cunnen

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Old English cunnan, from Proto-West Germanic *kunnan, from Proto-Germanic *kunnaną.

Past forms with /d/ (continued in modern could) are due to the influence of the weak past ending.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈkunən/

Verb

cunnen (third-person singular simple present can, present participle cunnynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative coude, past participle coud)

  1. To know about (especially a domain of knowledge)
  2. (auxiliary) To be able to; to have the capability (to do); can.
  3. (auxiliary) To be able to do in the relevant situation; to be available to do.

Conjugation

Conjugation of cunnen (preterite-present)
infinitive (to) cunnen, cunne
present tense past tense
1st-person singular can couthe, coude
2nd-person singular canst couthest, coudest
3rd-person singular can couthe, coude
subjunctive singular cunne
imperative singular —
plural1 cunnen, cunne couthen, couthe, couden, coude
imperative plural cunneth, cunne —
participles cunnynge, cunnende cunnen, cunne

1 Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Descendants

  • English: can, con, cun, could, cunning, canny
  • Scots: can, cun, cunning
  • Yola: canna, cou

References

Old English

Verb

cunnen

  1. past participle of cunnan
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