attren

Middle English

Etymology

Inherited from Old English ǣtrian, ǣttrian, from Proto-West Germanic *aitrōn, from Proto-Germanic *aitrōną; equivalent to atter (“poison”) +‎ -en (infinitival suffix).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈatrən/

Verb

attren (third-person singular simple present attreth, present participle attrende, attrynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle attred) (Northern or Early Middle English)

1. To poison or envenom
2. (rare, figurative) To pervert or ruin.

Usage notes

• This verb is usually found in the past tense, though other forms sometimes appear.

Conjugation

Conjugation of attren (weak in -ed)

infinitive	(to) attren, attre
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	attre	attred
2nd-person singular	attrest	attredest
3rd-person singular	attreth	attred
subjunctive singular	attre
imperative singular		—
plural1	attren, attre	attreden, attrede
imperative plural	attreth, attre	—
participles	attrynge, attrende	attred, yattred

¹ Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Descendants

• English: atter
• Scots: etter (vocalism may be due to influence from Old Norse eitra)

References

• “attren, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.