hwelian

Old English

Etymology

Unknown. Possibly derived from an unattested noun, Old English *hwele (“boil, sore”), also of unknown origin. According to Pokorny, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *ḱewh₁- (“to swell”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈxwe.li.ɑn/, [ˈʍe.li.ɑn]

Verb

hwelian

1. (of a boil or sore) to form pus; come to a head
2. (of a wound or sore) to blister; fester; ulcerate

Conjugation

Conjugation of hwelian (weak class 2)

infinitive	hwelian	hwelienne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	hweliġe	hwelode
second person singular	hwelast	hwelodest
third person singular	hwelaþ	hwelode
plural	hweliaþ	hwelodon
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	hweliġe	hwelode
plural	hweliġen	hweloden
imperative
singular	hwela
plural	hweliaþ
participle	present	past
	hweliende	(ġe)hwelod

Related terms

• hwelca
• *hwele

Descendants

• Middle English: whelen
  • English: wheal