freien

German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfʁaɪ̯ən/, [ˈfʁaɪ̯ən], [ˈfʁaɪ̯n̩]

Etymology 1

Originally restricted to Low and Central German; generalized by Luther. From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle Low German vrien and (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle High German vrīen, frīen, vrijen, vrigen; cf. (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old High German *frīon, Old Saxon friohon. Ultimately from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Proto-Germanic *frijōną. Cognate to Dutch vrijen.

Verb

1. (archaic or poetic) to marry
2. (archaic or poetic) to ask for marriage; to propose
3. (archaic or poetic) to court; to woo

Usage notes

• Only the derivative Freier remains current, but in a more negative sense (“client of a prostitute”).

Derived terms

• Freier
• Freite

Etymology 2

Adjective

freien

1. inflection of frei:
   1. strong genitive masculine/neuter singular
   2. weak/mixed genitive/dative all-gender singular
   3. strong/weak/mixed accusative masculine singular
   4. strong dative plural
   5. weak/mixed all-case plural

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Luxembourgish

Etymology

From Middle High German frīen, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *frijōną. Cognate with German freien, Dutch vrijen.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfʀai̯en/, [ˈfʀɑɪ̯ən]
• Rhymes: -ɑɪən

Verb

freien (third-person singular present freit, past participle gefrien, auxiliary verb hunn)

1. (transitive or intransitive) to court (romantically)

Conjugation

Regular
infinitive	freien
participle	gefrien
auxiliary	hunn
	present indicative	imperative
1st singular	freien	—
2nd singular	freis	frei
3rd singular	freit	—
1st plural	freien	—
2nd plural	freit	freit
3rd plural	freien	—
(n) or (nn) indicates the Eifeler Regel.

Related terms

• Freier
• Freierei
• Freiesch