axen - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (original) (raw)

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

axen

  1. (UK dialectal) plural of ash
  2. (obsolete) plural of axe

axen

  1. inflection of axar:
    1. third-person plural present subjunctive
    2. third-person plural imperative
  2. third-person plural present indicative of axir

From Old English ācsian, āxian, metathetic forms of āscian, from Proto-West Germanic *aiskōn.

axen

  1. (intransitive, transitive, ditransitive) To ask, enquire or question:
    • c. 1395, John Wycliffe, John Purvey [_et al._], transl., Bible (Wycliffite Bible (later version), MS Lich 10.)‎[1], published c. 1410, Matheu 7:7-8, page 3v, column 2; republished as Wycliffe's translation of the New Testament, Lichfield: Bill Endres, 2010:
      Axe ȝe .· ⁊ it ſchal be ȝouun to ȝou / ſeke ȝe .· ⁊ ȝe ſchulen fynde / knocke ȝe .· ⁊ it ſchal be opened to ȝou / foꝛ ech that axiþ .· takiþ / and he that ſekiþ .· fyndiþ / and it ſchal be openyde to hym .· that knockiþ
      Ask, and you'll receive it; look, and you'll find; knock, and it'll be opened for you. / Because anyone who asks takes, someone that looks finds, and that'll be opened to them that knocks.
    1. To formulate or proffer a question or query.
    2. To ask for a response (to a question or query).
    3. To request knowledge or information.
      • c. 1395, John Wycliffe, John Purvey [_et al._], transl., Bible (Wycliffite Bible (later version), MS Lich 10.)‎[2], published c. 1410, Coꝛinthis ·i· 14:35, page 66v, column 2; republished as Wycliffe's translation of the New Testament, Lichfield: Bill Endres, 2010:
        but if þei wolen ony þing lerne .· at hoom axe þei her hoſebondis / foꝛ it is foule þing to a womman .· to ſpeke in chirche
        But if they want to learn anything, they should ask their husbands at home, because it's a revolting thing for a woman to speak in church.
    4. To ask for a favour or reward; to supplicate.
    5. To pray for something; to supplicate a divinity.
  2. (transitive) To look for something; to attempt to find something:
    1. To search for an object, place, or person.
    2. To search for recommendations or information.
  3. (ambitransitive, ditransitive) To want or require (something or someone).
  4. (ambitransitive, ditransitive) To command or require (someone to do something).
  5. (transitive) To trial or examine (something)
  6. (rare, ambitransitive) To acquire knowledge through examination.
  7. (rare, transitive) To endeavour to do (something).
  8. (rare, transitive) To aim to visit a location.
  9. (rare, transitive) To have a tendency towards a certain way or direction.

Conjugation of axen (weak in -ed/-te)

infinitive (to) axen, axe
present tense past tense
1st-person singular axe axed, axte
2nd-person singular axest axedest, axtest
3rd-person singular axeth axed, axte
subjunctive singular axe
imperative singular —
plural1 axen, axe axeden, axede, axten, axte
imperative plural axeth, axe —
participles axynge, axende axed, axt

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

axen

  1. Alternative form of asshen (“ash-coloured”)

axen

  1. definite plural of ax

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