befæstan

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *bifastijan, equivalent to be- (“around”) +‎ fæstan (“to secure, fasten”).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /beˈfæs.tɑn/

Verb

befæstan

  1. (transitive) to fasten; fix; ground; establish; make safe; put in safe keeping
  2. (transitive) to apply; utilize; commend; entrust to
  3. (transitive) to commit
    • late 9th century, King Alfred's translation of Saint Augustine's Soliloquies
      ...Gyf ðū ēnigne gōdne heorde hæbbe þe wel cunne healdan þæt þæt þū gestrēone and him befæste, scēawa hyne me; […]
      If thou have any good steward that can well hold that which thou gettest and committest unto him, show him to me; […]

Conjugation
Conjugation of befæstan (weak class 1)
infinitive befæstan befæstenne
indicative mood present tense past tense
first person singular befæste befæste
second person singular befæstest, befæst befæstest
third person singular befæsteþ, befæst befæste
plural befæstaþ befæston
subjunctive present tense past tense
singular befæste befæste
plural befæsten befæsten
imperative
singular befæst
plural befæstaþ
participle present past
befæstende befæsted

Descendants
  • Middle English: befasten, bifesten
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