ræfan

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *raibijan, from Proto-Germanic *raibijaną (“to make happy, please, delight”), from Proto-Indo-European *reyp- (“to tear; border, edge”). Cognate with Old Norse reifa (“to help, delight, promote, give gifts, decorate”), Icelandic reifa (“to wrap up, swaddle; unloose, disclose; rip up”). Possibly also related to Old English rift (“curtain, veil”), Old English ārāfian (“to uncoil, wind off”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈræː.fɑn/, [ˈræː.vɑn]

Verb

rǣfan

1. to involve; wrap

Conjugation

Conjugation of rǣfan (weak class 1)

infinitive	rǣfan	rǣfenne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	rǣfe	rǣfde
second person singular	rǣfest, rǣfst	rǣfdest
third person singular	rǣfeþ, rǣfþ	rǣfde
plural	rǣfaþ	rǣfdon
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	rǣfe	rǣfde
plural	rǣfen	rǣfden
imperative
singular	rǣf
plural	rǣfaþ
participle	present	past
	rǣfende	(ġe)rǣfed

Related terms

• ārǣfan (“to set free, unwrap”)
• rāfian
• ārāfian (“to uncoil, wind off”)