forgiefan

Old English

Alternative forms

• forġeofan — Non-West Saxon
• forġifan — West Saxon
• forġyfan — Late West Saxon

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *fragebaną, corresponding to for- +‎ ġiefan. Cognate with Old Saxon fargevan, Middle Dutch vergeven (Dutch vergeven), Old High German fargeban (German vergeben), Old Norse fyrgefa (Icelandic fyrirgefa), Gothic 𐍆𐍂𐌰𐌲𐌹𐌱𐌰𐌽 (fragiban).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /forˈji͜y.fɑn/, [forˈji͜y.vɑn]

Verb

forġiefan (Early West Saxon)

1. to give (+dative a person) (+accusative for something)
   • late 9th century, King Alfred's translation of Saint Augustine's Soliloquies

     Ġȳt ġyf ðē þurh ōðerne creft hwilcne findan þā ðe þē findan, forġyf nē þone creft. Ġyf þē þurh wȳsdōm findon þā ðe þē findon, forġyf mē þonne wȳsdōm...

     If by any other power they find Thee who do find Thee, give me that power. If by wisdom they find Thee who find Thee, then give me wisdom.

   • late 10th century, Ælfric, "Saint Maur, Abbot"

     ...and forġeaf sumne hām tō þǣre hālgan stōwe...

     ...and gave certain property to the holy place...

1. to forgive (+dative a person) (+accusative for something)

Conjugation

Conjugation of forġiefan (strong class 5)

infinitive	forġiefan	forġiefenne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	forġiefe	forġeaf
second person singular	forġiefst	forġēafe
third person singular	forġiefþ	forġeaf
plural	forġiefaþ	forġēafon
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	forġiefe	forġēafe
plural	forġiefen	forġēafen
imperative
singular	forġief
plural	forġiefaþ
participle	present	past
	forġiefende	forgifen

Derived terms

• forġiefnes (“forgiveness”)

Descendants

• Middle English: foryiven, foryeven, foryive, forȝive, forȝiven, forgiven (influenced by given)
  • ⇒ Middle English: forgiven (influenced by given)
    • English: forgive
    • Scots: forgie, firgee, forgae