beon

Middle English

Etymology 1

Verb

beon (third-person singular simple present is, present participle beinge, first-/third-person singular past indicative was, past participle beon)

1. Alternative form of been (“to be”)

Etymology 2

Noun

beon

1. plural of beo (“bee”)

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Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *beuną (“to be”), related to būan (“to dwell”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰew-, *bʰuH-. The past tense forms are from Proto-Germanic *wesaną (from which also wesan), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂wes-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /be͜oːn/

Verb

bēon

1. to be; exist
2. to become

Usage notes

The verb "to be" in Old English was suppletive, and used forms from at least three different roots. There were two distinct present stems, for which wesan and bēon were the two infinitive forms. The present bēon was used to express permanent truths (the "gnomic present"), while wesan was used for the present participle and the preterite. They both shared the same past tense forms.

Conjugation

Conjugation of bēon (irregular)

infinitive	bēon	bēonne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	bēo	—
second person singular	bist	—
third person singular	biþ	—
plural	bēoþ	—
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	bēo	—
plural	bēon	—
imperative
singular	bēo
plural	bēoþ
participle	present	past
	bēonde	(ġe)bēon

Descendants

• Middle English: been
  • English: be (infinitive/subjunctive be, present participle being, past participle been)