fæmne

Old English

Alternative forms

• femne

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *faimnijǭ (“maiden”), related to (but not directly cognate with) Old Saxon fēmea, fēhmia, West Frisian fæm, Icelandic feima (“maiden”). Unrelated to Latin fēmina (“female, woman”), and probably also to Latin famula (“female servant”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfæːm.ne/

Noun

fǣmne f (nominative plural fǣmnan)

1. virgin, young woman

Derived terms

• fǣmnhād (“virginity”)
• fǣmnlīċ (“virginal”)