beginnan

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Old English

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Etymology

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Inherited from Proto-West Germanic *biginnan, derived from Proto-Germanic *ginnaną; equivalent to be- +‎ *ginnan.

Pronunciation

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Verb

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beġinnan

  1. to begin
    • c. 992, Ælfric, "Saint Maur, Abbot"
      Hē ārās þā ġesund, swelċe of slǣpe āwreaht, and begann tō wundrienne hū hē wurde þæder ġebrōht.
      Then he got up safe and sound, as if woken from sleep, and began to wonder how he got there.

Conjugation

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Descendants

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  • Middle English: beginnen, begynne, bigynne
    • English: begin
    • Scots: begin
    • Yola: begaan (preterite)