-gian

See also: Appendix:Variations of "gian"

Old English

Alternative forms

• -egian, -igian

Etymology

From the fusion of Proto-West Germanic *-igōn, *-īgōn, *-agōn, *-ugōn, from Proto-Germanic *-gōną, equivalent to -iġ +‎ -ian. Cognate with Old High German -igōn, -agōn, Old Norse -ga.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡi.ɑn/

Suffix

-gian

1. Used to form verbs from nouns and adjectives, often with an intensive effect

Conjugation

Conjugation of -gian (weak, class 2)

infinitive	-gian	-gienne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	-giġe	-gode
second person singular	-gast	-godest
third person singular	-gaþ	-gode
plural	-giaþ	-godon
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	-giġe	-gode
plural	-giġen	-goden
imperative
singular	-ga
plural	-giaþ
participle	present	past
	-giende	-god

Descendants

• Middle English: -gien, -gen, -ȝen, -ȝhen, -wen, -ewen, -owen, -iȝen, -ien, -yen (non-productive)
  • English: -ew, -ow, -y (fossilised)
  • Scots: -ow, -ou, -o, -ov, -ie, -y (fossilised)