fithelen

Middle English

Alternative forms

• fethelen, fithel, fiþele, fiþelen, fiþelyn, fydelin, fythelen, fythelyn, vydele

Etymology

From fithele (“viol”) +‎ -en (infinitival suffix).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfið(ə)lən/, /ˈfid(ə)lən/

Verb

fithelen (third-person singular simple present fitheleth, present participle fithelende, fithelynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle fitheled)

1. To play a string instrument.
2. (by extension) To narrate or entertain.

Conjugation

Conjugation of fithelen (weak in -ed)

infinitive	(to) fithelen
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	fithele	fitheled
2nd-person singular	fithelest	fitheledest
3rd-person singular	fitheleth	fitheled
subjunctive singular	fithele
imperative singular		—
plural1	fithelen, fithele	fitheleden, fithelede
imperative plural	fitheleth, fithele	—
participles	fithelynge, fithelende	fitheled, yfitheled

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

Descendants

• English: fiddle

References

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