befylan

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *bifūlijan, equivalent to be- +‎ fȳlan.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /beˈfyː.lɑn/

Verb

befȳlan

1. to defile, befoul
   • Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church

     Nū is ūs ālȳfed, þurh lārēowa ealdordōm, þæt wē dæġhwomlice, on þyssere lenctenlīċan tīde, ūre līchaman ġerēordiġan mid forhæfednysse, and sȳfernysse, and clǣnnysse. Stuntlīċe fæst sē lenctenlīċ fæsten seðe on ðisum clǣnum tīman hine sylfne mid gālnysse befȳld. Unrihtlīċ bið þæt sē crīstena mann flǣsċlīċe lustas ġefremme on ðām tīman þe hē flæsċmettas forgān sċeal.

     Now it is permitted to us, through the authority of teachers, that we feed our bodies with restraint, moderation, and modesty every day of this Lenten tide. He who performs the Lenten fast while defiling himself with lust does so foolishly. It is unlawful for a Christian to indulge in carnal lusts during the time he should forgo meats.

Conjugation

Conjugation of befȳlan (weak, class 1)

infinitive	befȳlan	befȳlenne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	befȳle	befȳlde
second person singular	befȳlest, befȳlst	befȳldest
third person singular	befȳleþ, befȳlþ	befȳlde
plural	befȳlaþ	befȳldon
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	befȳle	befȳlde
plural	befȳlen	befȳlden
imperative
singular	befȳl
plural	befȳlaþ
participle	present	past
	befȳlende	befȳled, befȳld

Descendants

• Middle English: befilen, befulen
  • English: befile
  • Scots: befyle, befile
  • ⇒ Middle English: defilen (through interference from Middle English defoulen)
    • English: defile
    • Scots: defyle, defile