acheten

Middle English

Alternative forms

• a-chetyn, chetyn

Etymology

Modification of escheten, possibly reflecting the loss of French preconsonantal /s/; equivalent to achete +‎ -en (infinitival suffix).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /aˈt͡ʃɛːtən/, /ˈt͡ʃɛːtən/

Verb

acheten

1. (rare) To take property from one's feudal subjects; to escheat.

   Synonym: escheten

Conjugation

Conjugation of acheten (weak in -ed)

infinitive	(to) acheten, achete
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	achete	acheted
2nd-person singular	achetest	achetedest
3rd-person singular	acheteth	acheted
subjunctive singular	achete
imperative singular		—
plural1	acheten, achete	acheteden, achetede
imperative plural	acheteth, achete	—
participles	achetynge, achetende	acheted

¹ Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Related terms

• achete
• chetour

Descendants

• English: cheat
• Scots: cheat, chate, chait

References

• “achēten, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
• “chēten, v.(2).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.