clyppan

Old English

Etymology

From West Proto-Germanic *klupjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *gelb(ʰ)-, *gleb(ʰ)- (“to squeeze while holding”), from *gel- (“to roll up together, into a ball; round object”) with an extra b(ʰ). Related to Lithuanian glóbti (“to hug, to embrace; to take, to grab for oneself; to cover, to wrap; to save, to help”), Old Prussian galbimai (“help”) (dative), poglabū (“he cuddled, hugged”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈklyp.pɑn/

Verb

clyppan

1. to hug
   • 10th century, The Wanderer:

     þinċeð him on mōde · þæt hē his mondryhten
     clyppe ond cysse, · ond on cnēo leċġe

     it seems to him on mind that he would his man-lord
     hug and kiss, and on knee would put.

2. to cherish
3. to clasp

Conjugation

Conjugation of clyppan (weak, class 1)

infinitive	clyppan	clyppenne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	clyppe	clypte
second person singular	clyppest, clypst	clyptest
third person singular	clyppeþ, clypþ	clypte
plural	clyppaþ	clypton
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	clyppe	clypte
plural	clyppen	clypten
imperative
singular	clypp
plural	clyppaþ
participle	present	past
	clyppende	(ġe)clypped

Derived terms

• beclyppan
• clypping
• ymbclyppan

Descendants

• Middle English: cleppen, cluppen, clippen
  • English: clip

References

• James A. H. Murray et al., editors (1884–1928), “Clyppan”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC.