wunian

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *wunēn.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈwu.ni.ɑn/

Verb

wunian

1. to live somewhere

   Hwǣr wunast þū?

   Where do you live?

   Iċ wuniġe on þǣre byrġ, mīn brōðor on þǣm lande.

   I live in the city, my brother in the country.

   Mīn sweostor wunaþ ġīet mid ūrum ieldrum.

   My sister still lives with our parents.

2. to stay somewhere

   Hē wunode ofer niht on þǣm lǣċehūse.

   He stayed in the hospital overnight.

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

     Þā ġecwæþð sē abbod and ealle þā ġebrōðra þæt þēr ne mihte nā mā munuca wunian...

     Then said the abbot and all the brothers, that no more monks could dwell there...

   • c. 992, Ælfric, "For Palm Sunday"

     Se Hælend wæs wunigende binnan ðam temple of ðisum dæge oð nu on ðunres-dæg, and ægðer ge mid láre ge mid wundrum þæt folc tihte to soðfæstnysse and to rihtum geleafan.

     Jesus was staying in the temple from this day till now on Thursday, and both with doctrine and with miracles stimulated the people to truth and to right faith.

3. to live or be in a certain condition
   • late 10th century, Ælfric, Lives of Saints

     Sē þeġn wæs wuniende butan wīfes nēawiste, forþan þe his ġebedda ġefaren wæs of life.

     The thane was living without the companionship of a woman, for his wife had departed from life.

   Wē wuniaþ on hyhte.

   We live in hope.

   Rihtwīsnes ne wunaþ on ǣ.

   Justice does not consist in the law.

   tælmearc þe wunaþ on unhlīsan

   a date which will live in infamy

4. to be located somewhere
   • Cynewulf, Elene

     Sæġe mē hwǣr sēo rōd wuniġe.

     Tell me where the cross lies.

5. to consist
6. to remain, last, continue, endure
   • Psalm 102:12

     Þū on ēcnesse wunast, āwa, Dryhten; wunaþ þīn ġemynd þenden weorold stent.

     You will last forever, always, Lord; the memory of you will endure while the world stands.

   • c. 992, Ælfric, "On the Purification of St. Mary"

     Ne ferde heo wórigende geond land, ac wæs wunigende geþyldelice binnan Godes temple.

     She went not wandering through the land, but remained patiently within God's temple.

7. to exist
   • c. 992, Ælfric, "Of the Catholic Faith"

     Se God wunað on Ðrynnysse úntodæledlic, and on ánnysse ánre Godcundnysse, soðlice oðer is se Fæder, oðer is se Sunu, oðer is se Halga Gast; ac þeah-hwæðere ðæra ðreora is án Godcundnys, and gelíc wuldor, and efen-ece mægenðrymnys.

     God exists in Trinity indivisible, and in unity of one Godhead, for the Father is one, the Son is one, the Holy Ghost is one; and yet of these three there is one Godhead, and like glory, and coeternal majesty.

Conjugation

Conjugation of wunian (weak class 2)

infinitive	wunian	wunienne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	wuniġe	wunode
second person singular	wunast	wunodest
third person singular	wunaþ	wunode
plural	wuniaþ	wunodon
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	wuniġe	wunode
plural	wuniġen	wunoden
imperative
singular	wuna
plural	wuniaþ
participle	present	past
	wuniende	(ġe)wunod

Derived terms

• āwunian
• ġewunian
• þurhwunian
• wunung

Descendants

• Middle English: wonen, woniȝen
  • English: won, wone