bekenen

Middle English

Alternative forms

• beckenen, bekenyn, beknen, beknyn, becnen
• bæcnien, becnien, beknien (Early Middle English)
• beccyn, bekyn, bekken, bikken (reanalysed)

Etymology

Inherited from Old English bēacnian and bīecnan. Equivalent to beken +‎ -en (infinitival suffix). In some forms, the -n- of the stem has been reanalysed as a infinitival suffix.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɛk(ə)nən/

Verb

bekenen

1. To indicate soundlessly, especially using one's hands.
2. To beckon; to indicate to come forwards.
3. (rare) To indicate a specific object; to select.
4. (rare) To blaze or flame.

Conjugation

Conjugation of bekenen (weak in -ed)

infinitive	(to) bekenen, bekene
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	bekene	bekened
2nd-person singular	bekenest	bekenedest
3rd-person singular	bekeneth	bekened
subjunctive singular	bekene
imperative singular		—
plural1	bekenen, bekene	bekeneden, bekenede
imperative plural	bekeneth, bekene	—
participles	bekenynge, bekenende	bekened, ybekened

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

Related terms

• bekenynge

Descendants

• English: beckon; beck
• Middle Scots: bekin

References

• “bekenen, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-06-25.
• “bekken, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2021-02-09.