grætan

Old English

Alternative forms

• grētan

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *grātan, from Proto-Germanic *grētaną (“to weep, moan, lament”).

Akin to Middle High German grāzen, Old Norse gráta (“to groan, weep”), Gothic 𐌲𐍂𐌴𐍄𐌰𐌽 (grētan). Compare also Old English grēotan (“to weep, lament”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡræː.tɑn/

Verb

grǣtan

1. to weep, cry
2. to bemoan, lament, bewail
3. to deplore

Conjugation

Conjugation of grǣtan (strong class 7)

infinitive	grǣtan	grǣtenne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	grǣte	grēt
second person singular	grǣtst	grēte
third person singular	grǣtt, grǣt	grēt
plural	grǣtaþ	grēton
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	grǣte	grēte
plural	grǣten	grēten
imperative
singular	grǣt
plural	grǣtaþ
participle	present	past
	grǣtende	(ġe)grǣten

Descendants

• Middle English: greten
  • English: greet
  • Scots: grete, greit, greet