hergian

Old English

Alternative forms

• heregian, herian, herġean, herġan, heriġan

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *harīgōn, *harjagōn, variants of *harjōn, from Proto-Germanic *harjōną (“to overrun with an army”). Related to Old English here.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈxer.ɡi.ɑn/, [ˈherˠ.ɣi.ɑn]

Verb

hergian

1. to pillage, plunder
   • late 9th century, translation of Orosius’ History Against the Pagans

     ⁊ þǣr ymbūtan wæs hergende ⁊ bærnende...

     ...and outside of there was pillaging and burning...

Conjugation

Conjugation of hergian (weak, class 2)

infinitive	hergian	hergienne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	hergiġe	hergode
second person singular	hergast	hergodest
third person singular	hergaþ	hergode
plural	hergiaþ	hergodon
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	hergiġe	hergode
plural	hergiġen	hergoden
imperative
singular	herga
plural	hergiaþ
participle	present	past
	hergiende	(ġe)hergod

Derived terms

• hergoþ
• hergung
• forhergian
• ġehergian
• oferhergian

Descendants

• Middle English: herȝen, herghen, herwen, herewen, herien, harien
  • Scots: herry
  • English: harry, harrow

References

Sweet's Student's Dictionary of Anglo-Saxon (First Edition, 1896, OUP)