forkerven

Middle English

Etymology

From Old English forċeorfan. Equivalent to for- +‎ kerven.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fɔrˈkɛrvən/

Verb

forkerven

1. To divide, separate, cleave (in two pieces)
2. (rare, medicine) To make soft, to disintegrate
3. (rare) To eat at, corrode

Conjugation

Conjugation of forkerven (strong class 3)

infinitive	(to) forkerven, forkerve
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	forkerve	forcarf
2nd-person singular	forkervest	forcurve, forcorve, forcarf
3rd-person singular	forkerveth	forcarf
subjunctive singular	forkerve	forcurve1, forcorve1
imperative singular		—
plural2	forkerven, forkerve	forcurven, forcurve, forcorven, forcorve
imperative plural	forkerveth, forkerve	—
participles	forkervynge, forkervende	forcorven, forcorve

¹ Replaced by the indicative in later Middle English.
² Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Descendants

• English: forcarve

References

• “forkerven, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-04-25.