bekenen

Middle English

Alternative forms

• bekenyn, beknyn, beckenen, bæcnien, beknen, becnen, beknien, beccyn, bekyn, bikken

Etymology

From Old English bēacnian, bēcnian, bīecnan, from Proto-Germanic *bauknōną, *bauknijaną, equivalent to beken +‎ -en (“infinitival suffix”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɛk(ə)nən/

Verb

bekenen

1. To indicate soundlessly, especially using one's hands.
2. To beckon; to indicate to come forwards.
3. (rare) To indicate a specific object; to select.
4. (rare) To blaze or flame.

Conjugation

Conjugation of bekenen (weak in -ed)

infinitive	(to) bekenen, bekene
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	bekene	bekened
2nd-person singular	bekenest	bekenedest
3rd-person singular	bekeneth	bekened
subjunctive singular	bekene
imperative singular		—
plural1	bekenen, bekene	bekeneden, bekenede
imperative plural	bekeneth, bekene	—
participles	bekenynge, bekenende	bekened, ybekened

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

Related terms

• bekenyng

Descendants

• English: beckon
• Scots: bekin (obsolete)

References

• “bekenen (v.)”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-06-25.