efesian
Old English
Alternative forms
- efosian, efsian, efsigean, efesiġan
Etymology
From the noun efes (“eaves”) or its ancestor.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈe.fe.si.ɑn/, [ˈe.ve.si.ɑn]
Usage notes
- In Old English, you usually cut someone's head, not their hair (Lēte þū þīn hēafod efesian? = “Did you get your hair [lit. head] cut?”), or else the object is the person themselves (Sēo widuwe wolde efesian þone hālgan ǣlce ġēare and his næġlas ċeorfan = “The widow would cut the saint's hair [lit. the saint] every year and trim his nails”). It is always clear that hair is meant because efesian, unlike snīþan or ċeorfan, only refers to cutting hair, not any other object or body part. See also cemban (“to comb”).
Conjugation
Conjugation of efesian (weak class 2)
| infinitive | efesian | efesienne |
|---|---|---|
| indicative mood | present tense | past tense |
| first person singular | efesiġe | efesode |
| second person singular | efesast | efesodest |
| third person singular | efesaþ | efesode |
| plural | efesiaþ | efesodon |
| subjunctive | present tense | past tense |
| singular | efesiġe | efesode |
| plural | efesiġen | efesoden |
| imperative | ||
| singular | efesa | |
| plural | efesiaþ | |
| participle | present | past |
| efesiende | (ġe)efesod | |
Derived terms
- āefesian
- beefesian
- efesung
- misefesian
Descendants
- Middle English: evesen
See also
- sċieran (“to shave”)
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