drifan

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *drībaną, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰreybʰ- (“to drive, push”). Cognate with Old Frisian drīva (West Frisian driuwe), Old Saxon drīvan, drīƀan (Low German drieven), Dutch drijven, Old High German trīban (German treiben), Old Norse drífa (Danish drive, Swedish driva), Gothic 𐌳𐍂𐌴𐌹𐌱𐌰𐌽 (dreiban).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈdriː.fɑn/, [ˈdriː.vɑn]

Verb

drīfan

1. (transitive) to drive; force, pursue; drive (back); push
2. (intransitive) to drive; rush with violence

Conjugation

Conjugation of drīfan (strong class 1)

infinitive	drīfan	drīfenne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	drīfe	drāf
second person singular	drīfst	drife
third person singular	drīfþ	drāf
plural	drīfaþ	drifon
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	drīfe	drife
plural	drīfen	drifen
imperative
singular	drīf
plural	drīfaþ
participle	present	past
	drīfende	(ġe)drifen

Derived terms

• bedrīfan
• fordrīfan
• oferdrīfan
• tōdrīfan
• þurhdrīfan
• ādrīfan

 

Related terms

• drǣfan
• *drift
• drāf
• ġedrif
• ġedrīf

 

Descendants

• Middle English: driven
  • English: drive
  • Scots: dryve