þurfan

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *þurbaną (“to need”). Germanic cognates include Old Frisian *thurva, Old Saxon thurƀan, Old Dutch thurvan, Old High German durfan, Old Norse þurfa, Gothic 𐌸𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌱𐌰𐌽 (þaurban).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈθur.fɑn/, [ˈθurˠ.vɑn]

Verb

þurfan

1. to need [+genitive]
2. to be obliged (to do something)

Conjugation

Conjugation of þurfan (preterite-present)

infinitive	þurfan	þearfenne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	þearf	þorfte
second person singular	þearft	þorftest
third person singular	þearf	þorfte
plural	þurfon	þorfton
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	þyrfe	þorfte
plural	þyrfen	þorften
imperative
singular	þyrfe
plural	þurfaþ
participle	present	past
	þearfende	—

Descendants

• Middle English: thurven