bysn

Old English

Alternative forms

• bȳsen, bīsen

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *būsniz (“command, precept”), from *beudaną (“to ask, beg”). Cognate with Old Saxon ambusan (“command, precept”), Old Norse býsn (“wonder, premonition”), Gothic 𐌰𐌽𐌰𐌱𐌿𐍃𐌽𐍃 (anabūsns, “command”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /byːsn/, [byːzn]

Noun

bȳsn f

1. example
   • late 9th century, King Alfred's translation of Boethius' The Consolation of Philosophy

     Ealla bēċ sind fulla þāra bȳsna þāra manna þe ǣr ūs wǣron.

     All books are full of the examples of the people who were before us.

2. parable
3. command

Declension

Declension of bysn (strong i-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	bȳsn	bȳsne, bȳsna
accusative	bȳsn, bȳsne	bȳsne, bȳsna
genitive	bȳsne	bȳsna
dative	bȳsne	bȳsnum

Derived terms

• forebȳsn (“example”)
• bȳsnian (“exemplify, give or set an example”)

Descendants

• Middle English: bisne, bisen
  • English: bizen