delfan

Middle English

Verb

delfan

  1. Alternative form of delven

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *delbaną. Cognate with Old Frisian delva, Old Saxon *delvan, Old High German *telban.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈdelfɑn/, [ˈdelvɑn]

Verb

delfan

  1. to dig, delve
    Ongan he eorþan delfan: he began to dig the earth. (Codex Vercellensis)
  2. to dig up, to excavate

Conjugation
Conjugation of delfan (strong class 3)
infinitive delfan tō delfanne
indicative present past
1st-person singular delfe dealf
2nd-person singular delfest,dilfst dulfe
3rd-person singular delfeþ,dilfþ dealf
plural delfaþ dulfon
subjunctive present past
singular delfe dulfe
plural delfen dulfen
imperative
singular delf(e)
plural delfaþ
participle present past
delfende (ġe)dolfen

Derived terms
  • ādelfan (“to delve, dig, excavate”)
  • bedelfan (“to dig round, bury, bedelve”)
  • fordelfan (“to delve, dig”)
  • þurhdelfan (“to dig through, pierce”)
  • underdelfan (“to dig under, undermine, break through”)
  • ūpādelfan (“to dig up”)
  • ūtādelfan (“to dig out”)

Descendants
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