beginnan

Old English

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-West Germanic *biginnan, derived from Proto-Germanic *ginnaną; equivalent to be- +‎ *ginnan.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /beˈjin.nɑn/

Verb

beġinnan

1. to begin
   • c. 992, Ælfric, "Saint Maur, Abbot"

     Hē ārās þā ġesund, swelċe of slǣpe āwreaht, and begann tō wundrienne hū hē wurde þæder ġebrōht.

     Then he got up safe and sound, as if woken from sleep, and began to wonder how he got there.

Conjugation

Conjugation of beġinnan (strong class 3)

infinitive	beġinnan	beġinnenne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	beġinne	begann
second person singular	beġinst	begunne
third person singular	beġinþ	begann
plural	beġinnaþ	begunnon
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	beġinne	begunne
plural	beġinnen	begunnen
imperative
singular	beġinn
plural	beġinnaþ
participle	present	past
	beġinnende	begunnen

Related terms

• āginnan
• anginnan
• onginnan
• underginnan

Descendants

• Middle English: beginnen, begynne, bigynne
  • English: begin
  • Scots: begin
  • Yola: begaan (preterite)