forgiefan

• forġeofan — Non-West Saxon
• forġifan — West Saxon
• forġyfan — Late West Saxon

From Proto-Germanic *fragebaną, corresponding to for- +‎ ġiefan. Cognate with Old Saxon fargevan, Middle Dutch vergeven (Dutch vergeven), Old High German fargeban (German vergeben), Old Norse fyrgefa (Icelandic fyrirgefa), Gothic 𐍆𐍂𐌰𐌲𐌹𐌱𐌰𐌽 (fragiban).

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

forġiefan (Early West Saxon)

1. to give (+dative a person) (+accusative for something)
   • late 9th century, King Alfred's translation of Saint Augustine's Soliloquies

     Ġȳt ġyf ðē þurh ōðerne creft hwilcne findan þā ðe þē findan, forġyf nē þone creft. Ġyf þē þurh wȳsdōm findon þā ðe þē findon, forġyf mē þonne wȳsdōm...

     If by any other power they find Thee who do find Thee, give me that power. If by wisdom they find Thee who find Thee, then give me wisdom.

   • late 10th century, Ælfric, "Saint Maur, Abbot"

     ...and forġeaf sumne hām tō þǣre hālgan stōwe...

     ...and gave certain property to the holy place...

2. to forgive (+dative a person) (+accusative for something)
   • c. 990, Wessex Gospels, Matthew 6:9-13

     Fæder ūre, þū þe eart in heofenum, sī þīn nama ġehālgod. Tōbecume þīn rīċe. Ġeweorþe þīn willa on eorþan, swā swā on heofenum. Ūrne dæġhwāmlīċan hlāf syle ūs tōdæġ. And forġȳf ūs ūre ġyltas, swā swā wē forġȳfaþ ūrum ġyltendum. And ne ġelǣde þū ūs on costnunge, ac alȳs ūs of yfle: sōþlīċe.

     Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

• forġiefnes (“forgiveness”)

• Middle English: foryiven, foryeven, foryive, forȝive, forȝiven, forgiven (influenced by given)
  • ⇒ Middle English: forgiven (influenced by given)
    • English: forgive
    • Scots: forgie, firgee, forgae