thirlen

Middle English

Alternative forms

• thirl, thrill, thrillen, thrylle, þerle, þerlyn, þirlen, þirllen, þrille, þurle, þurlin

Etymology

From Old English þȳrlian; equivalent to thirl (“hole”) +‎ -en (infinitival suffix).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈθɛrlən/, /ˈθeːrlən/, /ˈθirlən/, /ˈθiːrlən/, /ˈθrilən/

Verb

thirlen (third-person singular simple present thirleth, present participle thirlende, thirlynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle thirled)

1. To make a hole, opening, or passage; to bore:
   1. To stab or pierce (with a weapon)
   2. To attach by gouging; to transfix.
2. To enter, move or travel into:
   1. To diffuse; to spread throughout.
   2. (rare, anatomy) To occupy or extend into.
3. (rare) To rapidly move or lunge.
4. (rare) To emotionally overwhelm.

Conjugation

Conjugation of thirlen (weak in -ed)

infinitive	(to) thirlen, thirle
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	thirle	thirled
2nd-person singular	thirlest	thirledest
3rd-person singular	thirleth	thirled
subjunctive singular	thirle
imperative singular		—
plural1	thirlen, thirle	thirleden, thirlede
imperative plural	thirleth, thirle	—
participles	thirlynge, thirlende	thirled, ythirled

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

Descendants

• English: thirl; thrill
• Scots: thirl

References

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