magan

See also: Magan, magán, and màgan

Faroese

Noun

1. definite accusative singular of magi

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Gothic

Romanization

magan

1. Romanization of 𐌼𐌰𐌲𐌰𐌽

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Japanese

Romanization

magan

1. Rōmaji transcription of まがん
2. Rōmaji transcription of マガン

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Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *maganą. Cognate with Old Frisian muga, Old Saxon mugan, Old Dutch mugan, Old High German mugan, Old Norse mega, Gothic 𐌼𐌰𐌲𐌰𐌽 (magan).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɑ.ɡɑn/, [ˈmɑ.ɣɑn]

Verb

magan

1. (auxiliary, with an infinitive) can, to be able
   • late 10th century, Ælfric, "Of the Catholic Faith"

     Būtan ġē hit ġelīefen, ne mage ġē hit understandan.

     Unless you believe it, you cannot understand it.

   • late 10th century, Ælfric, the Old English Hexateuch, Genesis 45:3

     And hē cwæþ tō his ġebrōðrum, "Iċ eom Iosep! Leofaþ ūre fæder nū ġīet?" Þā ne meahton his ġebrōðru him for eġe ġeandwyrdan.

     And he said to his brothers, "I'm Joseph! Is our father still alive?" Then his brothers couldn't answer him, because they were too afraid.

   • c. 990, Wessex Gospels, Matthew 26:8-9

     Þēos sealf mihte bēon ġeseald tō miċelum weorðe and þearfum ġedǣled.

     This ointment could have been sold for a lot of money and given to the poor.

   • c. 990, Wessex Gospels, Mark 14:37

     Þā cōm hē and fand hīe slāpende, and cwæþ tō Petre, "Simon, slǣpst þū? Ne meahtest þū āne tīde wacian?"

     Then he came and found them asleep, and said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Couldn't you stay awake for one hour?"

2. (transitive) can (do something), to be able (to do something)
   • late 10th century, Ælfric, "The First Sunday After Easter"

     God is ælmihtiġ, and mæġ eall þæt hē wile.

     God is all-powerful, and can do anything he wants.

3. avail, prevail

Conjugation

Conjugation of magan (preterite-present)

infinitive	magan	magenne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	mæġ	meahte, mehte
second person singular	meaht	meahtest, mehtest
third person singular	mæġ	meahte, mehte
plural	magon	meahton, mehton
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	mæġe	meahte, mehte
plural	mæġen	meahten, mehten
imperative
singular	—
plural	—
participle	present	past
	magende	—

Related terms

• mægen

Descendants

• Middle English: mowen, magen, maȝen, mayen, mauen, mawe, mawen, moȝen, mouen, mouin, moun, mouwe, mouwen, mow, mowe, mugen, muȝhen
  • English: may
  • Scots: mey, may, ma
  • Yola: mye, mey, mai, maa, ma; meigh