bifian

Old English

Alternative forms

• biofian, beofian

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *bibjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyh₂- (“to be frightened”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbi.fi.ɑn/, [ˈbi.vi.ɑn]

Verb

bifian

1. to tremble, shake
   • late 10th century, Ælfric, "Likewise of Saint Peter"

     Hēo fēoll bifiġende tō þæs Hǣlendes fōtum.

     She fell trembling at Jesus' feet.

   • c. 990, Wessex Gospels, Matthew 27:51

     Þæs temples wāgrift wearþ tōsliten on twēġen dǣlas fram ufeweardum oþ niðeweard, and sēo eorðe bifode, and stānas tōburston.

     The curtain of the temple was torn in half from top to bottom, and the earth shook, and rocks split open.

Conjugation

Conjugation of bifian (weak class 2)

infinitive	bifian	bifienne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	bifiġe	bifode
second person singular	bifast	bifodest
third person singular	bifaþ	bifode
plural	bifiaþ	bifodon
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	bifiġe	bifode
plural	bifiġen	bifoden
imperative
singular	bifa
plural	bifiaþ
participle	present	past
	bifiende	(ġe)bifod

Derived terms

• beofung
• bifiġendlīċ

Descendants

• Middle English: bivien, beovien
  • English: bive
  • ⇒ Middle English: biveren, beveren
    • English: bever; bibber (Irish)
    • Scots: bever, baiver, baver, bevver