hwonne

Old English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *hwannā, extension of *hwan, from Proto-Germanic *hwan. Cognate with Old High German wanna.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈxwon.ne/, [ˈʍon.ne]

Adverb

hwonne

  1. when

Usage notes

  • Hwænne is the dominant spelling in Ælfric, hwonne in most early texts including the writings of Alfred.
  • Hwonne only means "when" in an interrogative sense, i.e. when forming direct or indirect questions. For "when" when it is used to introduce a dependent clause that is not a question, þā is used for past-tense clauses in the indicative mood, or þonne otherwise.

Descendants

  • Middle English: whanne
    • English: when
    • Scots: whan
    • Yola: fan, van, phen
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