flowen

English

Verb

flowen

1. (obsolete) past participle of flow

References

• “flowen”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Middle English

Alternative forms

• floȝen, flouen, flowe, flue, flwy
• flowenn (Ormulum)

Etymology

Inherited from Old English flōwan, from Proto-West Germanic *flōan, from Proto-Germanic *flōaną. Compare flod.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈflɔu̯ən/

Verb

flowen (third-person singular simple present floweth, present participle flowende, flowynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle flowed)

1. To flow, stream, or issue; (to move as a fluid):
   1. To gush or spurt; to move rapidly as a jet.
   2. To spout or trickle; to flow downwards.
   3. To act like a fluid; to be turbulent or impermanent.
   4. (figurative) To flow (move smoothly like liquid)
   5. (rare, of the sea) To become turbulent or rough.
2. To be flooded; to be overwhelmed by a flood or deluge.
3. (of the tide) To surge or rise; to become or be high.
4. To float; to be propelled by water or as if by water.
5. (rare, figurative) To macerate in joy or lucre.
6. (rare, figurative) To appear (of feelings)

Usage notes

This verb is mainly weak in Middle English, but some traces of its historic status as a class 7 strong verb still remain.

Conjugation

Conjugation of flowen (weak in -ed or strong class 7)

infinitive	(to) flowen, flowe
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	flowe	flowed, flew
2nd-person singular	flowest	flowedest, flewe, flew
3rd-person singular	floweth	flowed, flew
subjunctive singular	flowe	flowed1, flewe1
imperative singular		—
plural2	flowen, flowe	floweden, flowede, flewen, flewe
imperative plural	floweth, flowe	—
participles	flowynge, flowende	flowed, flowen, yflowed, yflowen

¹Replaced by the indicative in later Middle English.
²Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Related terms

• flowynge
• overflowen

Descendants

• English: flow
• Scots: flow

References

• “flouen, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-11-12.

Old English

Verb

flōwen

1. past participle of flōwan