clawen

Middle English

Etymology 1

From Old English clawan, clāwan, *clēn, clawian, from Proto-Germanic *klawjaną; equivalent to clawe +‎ -en (infinitival suffix).

Alternative forms

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈklau̯ən/, /ˈklɔu̯ən/, /ˈkleːn/

Verb

clawen

  1. To scratch at with the claws; to claw or make lacerations.
  2. To scratch gently (as to remove pain or aching).
  3. (rare) To grab onto; to make a grip on something.
  4. (rare) To flatter; to butter up.
  5. (rare) To wipe or remove dirt by abrasion.
Conjugation
Conjugation of clawen (weak in -ed or strong class 7)
infinitive (to) clawen, clawe
present tense past tense
1st-person singular clawe clawed, clew
2nd-person singular clawest clawedest, clewe, clew
3rd-person singular claweth clawed, clew
subjunctive singular clawe clawed1, clewe1
imperative singular —
plural2 clawen, clawe claweden, clawede, clewen, clewe
imperative plural claweth, clawe —
participles clawynge, clawende clawed, clawen, clawe, yclawed, yclawen

1Replaced by the indicative in later Middle English.
2Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Descendants
  • English: claw
  • Scots: claw
References

Etymology 2

From clawe +‎ -en (plural suffix).

Noun

clawen

  1. plural of clawe
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