sierwan

Old English

Alternative forms

• sirwan, syrwan, serwan, sirwian, sirewan

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *sarwijan, derived from the noun *saru (Old English searu).

Verb

sierwan

1. to plot, devise (generally in a negative sense)
   • late 9th century, King Alfred's translation of Boethius' The Consolation of Philosophy

     Hē nolde meldian on his ġefēran þe mid him sieredon ymb þone cyning.

     He wouldn't inform on his companions, who conspired with him against the king.

2. (poetic) to arm

Conjugation

Conjugation of sierwan (weak class 1)

infinitive	sierwan	sierwenne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	sierwe	sierede
second person singular	sierest	sieredest
third person singular	siereþ	sierede
plural	sierwaþ	sieredon
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	sierwe	sierede
plural	sierwen	siereden
imperative
singular	siere
plural	sierwaþ
participle	present	past
	sierwende	(ġe)siered

Descendants

• Middle English: sirwen