wolven

See also: wölven

English

Etymology

From Middle English wolven, *wilven, *wulven, perhaps continuing Old English wylfen (wolfish), from Proto-West Germanic *wulfīn (wolfish), equivalent to wolf +‎ -en. Piecewise doublet of lupine.

Adjective

wolven (comparative more wolven, superlative most wolven)

  1. Of or pertaining to wolves; wolflike; wolfish.
    • 2004, Marilyn Mattie Brahen, Claiming Her:
      But the shepherd does protect the sheep from the wolf: therefore, few fall to feed the wolven cubs, the remaining sheep living long to rear more lambs and provide us with wool.
    • 2009, Kate Douglas, Wolf Tales VIII:
      Not a very wolven gesture, but somehow apropos.
    • 2011, Gill McKnight, Indigo Moon:
      “What I mean is, this marking you and hiding you away, it's very wolven. [...]"

Noun

wolven (plural wolvens or wolven)

  1. (fantasy, uncommon) A wolflike being; one who is wolflike in appearance or character. (Can we verify(+) this sense?)
    • For quotations using this term, see Citations:wolven.

Dutch

Pronunciation

  • Audio:(file)
  • IPA(key): /ˈʋɔlvə(n)/
  • Rhymes: -ɔlvən

Noun

wolven

  1. plural of wolf

West Frisian

Noun

wolven

  1. plural of wolf